• Greg Duff vs Lucy Krakowiak for Position No. 2
• Bob Edgar vs Gordon Shaw for Position No. 4
• Debi Wagner vs Jerry Robison for Position No. 6 (not on the primary ballot because there were only two candidates)

Here are the final tallies for the primary election:

CITY OF BURIEN

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: * 6867 / 22330 30.75%

Council Position No. 2

• Greg Duff 1679 26.33%
• Ed Dacy 1547 24.26%
• Lucy Krakowiak 3113 48.82%
• Write-in 37 0.58%

Council Position No. 4

• Gordon M. Shaw 2370 37.94%
• Joey Martinez 1005 16.09%
• Bob Edgar 2812 45.02%
• Write-in 59 0.94%

To get a better feel for deciding on who to vote for, check out our Oct. 12th Candidates Forum here, which includes quotes, photos and raw audio of the evening.

For more information on the candidates in this and other area races, visit www.kingcounty.gov/elections or to www.vote.wa.gov.

I wish to congratulate my two opponents, Councilmember Lucy Krakowiak and Planning Commissioner Greg Duffy. I do want to thank them for running open and transparent campaigns, based on issues.

I would also like to thank everyone who voted for me. If any of them wish to see a particular idea of mine for the future of Burien to move forward, please contact the City Council: council@burienwa.gov.

All my campaign signs have been picked up – I think – if you see one please let me know, either by a comment here or e-mail me at EdDacy@msn.com and I will pick up the sign, I do not want them lingering in the landscape of Burien.

On the Bob Edgar issue; I believe that Mr. Edgar was taken by surprise on the support he received in the primary election and I do not think he planned on going on to the general election.

As most men have heard in their life WHAT ARE YOUR INTENTIONS MR. EDGAR?

If he plans to take office without filing any Public Disclosure forms he would be undermining the current voting process changed after the Watergate scandals of the 70’s.

The Public Disclosure forms do more than list contributions and expenditures; they also list any dealings he might have with the City of Burien. These dealings could be contracts with the City of Burien that he, his family, his employer(s) has; or grants or contracts between the City with any organization he or his family might be on the board of.

If Mr. Edgar pledges not to take office if elected, then I would see no reason for him to become a public figure.

Only Mr. Edgar can end this debate.

- Ed Dacy

[Have something you'd like to share with our Readers? Please send us your Letter to the Editor via email. Include your full name, and, pending our review, we'll most likely publish it.]

Our next B-Town Blog Candidates Forum is set for this coming Tuesday, Aug. 2nd at 8 p.m. – and YOU are invited to attend, listen, learn and, if you wish, quiz the candidates yourself.

This one will feature the three candidates vying for a full four-year term on the King County Council, representing the district that includes Burien and White Center.

They are: incumbent Joe McDermott, and challengers Diana Toledo and Goodspaceguy.

For those of you who would like to attend but cannot (yes, we know, there is a lot happening this coming Tuesday), we are now taking your questions, via email (send ‘em to Mark@B-TownBlog.com), for us to ask on your behalf at the Forum Tuesday night.

While we can’t guarantee your question will be asked, we will consider all questions sent to us.

We’re looking for concise inquiries that tend to draw out the views, experience and personalities of the various candidates. All three candidates will be given an opportunity to answer each question we read.

So, sharpen your pencils, er, keypads readers, and send your questions to our Candidates Forum Producer at: Mark@B-TownBlog.com.

For the hale and hearty who will make the trek Tuesday night, we look forward to seeing you in person. Again, it starts at 8pm and goes to a little after 9pm.

Location: The ERAC (Educational Resource and Administrative Center), a Highline School District building located at 15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW in south Burien, just north of Hi-Line Lanes and across the street from Azteca Restaurant.

"He's a really nice guy," said Burien City Councilmember Gordon Shaw about his opponent Joey Martinez at the conclusion of Tuesday night's Candidates Forum. Photo by Scott Schaefer.

by Ralph Nichols

Six of the seven candidates for Burien City Council exchanged views in a lively forum presented by The B-Town Blog Tuesday evening (July 26), which you can listen to by clicking the “Play” button below:
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Four of the candidates are on the Aug. 16 primary election ballot. The forum was hosted by Mike Heavey, and featured Geoffrey “Mac’ McElroy and this Reporter as panelists.

Position 2 challengers Ed Dacy and Greg Duff fielded questions in the absence of incumbent Lucy Krakowiak, who declined to attend the event.

And Position 4 incumbent Gordon Shaw and challenger Joey Martinez are in the primary because a third candidate who filed for that seat, Bob Edgar, withdrew after the statutory deadline so his name remains on the ballot.

Position 6 candidates, incumbent Gerald Robison, who was appointed in January to fill the unexpired term of Kathy Keene, who resigned earlier, and Debi Wagner, who also applied to fill that vacancy, will appear only on the November general election ballot.

The candidates’ responses to questions asked during the forum appear below. Some of them are partially paraphrased. Although the order of their answers was rotated, these are grouped here by race, in alphabetical order.

If the numbers pencil out, do you favor annexation of the North Highline Unincorporated Area by Burien?

Dacy: There are a lot of red herrings in the anti-annexation debate. But we need a couple of years to see how the first annexation works out. Some city services that Seattle would provide if it annexes the area are not provided by Burien; for example, fire and water services are provided by separate taxing districts. This annexation move is being forced by the King County Library District. The city is not served well by Burien’s representative on the library board.

Duff: Yes – if the final financial report is favorable. Also, once a decision is made, we want someone on the city council who will work for the annexed area, not someone who will say “no” for the sake of saying no.

Shaw: I have publicly said yes a dozen times or more with the caveat if the numbers work out. The question is how to make White Center a better neighbor for Burien. There are several advantages to annexing White Center that remain unanswered. Burien also has to be a better neighbor of White Center.

Martinez: Yes – if the numbers pencil out. We need to work to get more assistance from King County. I know they have pennies hidden. We need to ask for King County deputies to be assigned to Burien for at least the life of their contract, and also get storm and flood control assistance.

Robison: Yes – I am an emphatic supporter of annexing White Center. I studied it before the first annexation, I studied every report, and in fact it is economically viable. There are ways to improve it including working with the King County Housing Authority. It is critical for the city of Burien because of the impact if we don’t annex.

Wagner: I’m the only one opposed. We can’t afford it. I don’t know why Burien can afford it if Seattle can’t. It’s not a stigma issue. I just think that Burien needs to lower its tax rates, which are the highest in King County, instead of increasing taxes to pay for resulting shortfalls from annexation.

How will you balance shoreline management with landowner rights?

Dacy: Property rights are important. The SMP [Shoreline Master Program] the council passed is the best compromise. The state is being unreasonable. The shoreline is low density with single-family homes. The state Department of Ecology is out of line for what they’re trying to do.

Duff: The government shold tread very lightly when it steps on peoples’ property. I’m glad the city of Burien came up with a compromise – I hope they stick to their guns. We need to protect the environment, but even more we need to protect people’s property rights.

Shaw: On the council, I was the most landowners’ rights proponent during the SMP process. The environment needs to be protected, but the program brought to us has little reasonable expectation to benefit the environment.

Martinez: The state Shoreline Management Act is a slippery slope. There is a wide gap – a slippery slope of 45 feet – between what the city council wants and what Ecology wants. If we don’t act there will be a lawsuit, so we need to try to balance property rights and the environment.

Robison: Property rights are important; property rights are human rights. Environmental protection is nice, it is important. But the Founders included just compensation for the taking of property to avoid the tyranny of the state.

Wagner: It’s a tough issue. Protection of the environment benefits everybody. Maybe the state should compensate homeowners for that part of their property that is affected. We need to be environmental stewards. We need to hold back on development at all costs.

Will you vote to renew City Manager Mike Martin’s contract when it expires?

Dacy: I will vote to keep any city manager as long as they do the will of the council. Mike has done a good job of following the will of the council.

Duff: I believe Mike is an excellent city manager. If our city isn’t being run right, it’s not his fault. He’s simply doing what the council instructs him to do.

Shaw: The council sets policy but the council doesn’t run the city from day to day. The greatest thing I’ve done in almost eight years on the council is to seek out and get Mike Martin made city manager. Look around at other cities in the area. They’re laying people off. We’re in good shape vis-à-vis everybody else.

Martinez: This is a tough choice. He seems to be controversial in some circles, but he seems to be doing an OK job by my standards. I can’t say yes or no.

Robison: Mike is doing a fine job as city manager. He’s doing a much better job than any of his predecessors. The city is run much better now, much more efficiently. I’m disgusted by some of the things I hear.

Wagner: I’ve heard a lot of negative comments about the city manager.

What is your top priority for Burien?

Dacy: To make North Burien feel like it’s part of Burien. We’ve got to be one city. We’ve got to be more business friendly. The lack of that hurts us. [Note: Dacy added that he’s seen no evidence of corruption in Burien government – this in response to a comment made by Wagner, who spoke just before him (see below).]

Duff: I’d like to see us go after businesses. We need to bring new business in. Paul Allen is going to build buildings in Bothell. Why Bothell? It doesn’t have an airport next door and isn’t near I-5. We need to get Town Square finished.

Shaw: My support for the Northeast Redevelopment Area [NERA} has been both a success and a failure. The only long-term lasting solution is to remove houses under the airport flight path and convert this to some other use. Not a park next to North SeaTac Park. We’re on the cusp of converting it to commercial use and I want to see it happen.

Martinez: We need to invest in the future, in parks and crime prevention. If we invest our money wisely now, we can direct our youth to become productive members of society.

Robison: I have a number of priorities – police, annexation, a good budget, completion of the 1st Avenue Project. But first is North Highline annexation.

Wagner: To listen to the people. To see what the people want. To make decisions based on consensus and not whatever is corrupt about government.

NOTE: The next B-Town Blog Candidates Forum will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 2nd, starting at 8 p.m. at the ERAC Building, and will feature candidates for the King County Council, Position #8: incumbent Joe McDermott, and challengers Diana Toledo and Goodspaceguy (more info here).

Here are some photos of Tuesday night’s forum, as shot by Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer:

To help you figure out which ballot bubbles to fill in with black or blue ink, we at The B-Town Blog are happy to continue our presentation of Candidate Forums, which YOU are invited (and in fact, encouraged) to attend and even participate in if you wish.

We’ve just arranged for a Candidates Forum featuring the three candidates running for the King Council Council seat which represents a southwest portion of the county, including Burien.

It’s set for Tuesday, Aug. 2, from 8pm to 9:15pm. Incumbent Joe McDermott and challengers Diana Toledo and Goodspaceguy have all agreed to attend.

Location is the ERAC, (Educational Resource and Administrative Center), a Highline School District building, located at 15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW in south Burien, just north of Hi-Line Lanes, across the street from the Azteca Restaurant. Plenty of free, convenient parking.

And don’t forget our forum set for Tuesday, July 26, starting at 7pm, also at the ERAC, featuring the Burien City Council races. All eight candidates running for the three open seats, challengers and incumbents alike, have been invited.

Bring your neighbor.

Bring your friend.

Bring your questions!

See you there!

The primary this year is August 16. The general election is November 8.

This coming Monday, July 18th, is the deadline to register to vote in the upcoming Aug. 16th Primary Election, which means that if you do NOT register by then, you won’t be able to vote in two important local city council races in Burien.

Residents can register to vote online or by mail. Ballots will be mailed at the end of July, and the deadline to return them is Election Day – Aug. 16.

As a reminder, The B-Town Blog will be sponsoring another local Candidates Forum starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26th at the ERAC Center, located near Hi-Line Lanes on Ambaum Blvd., this time featuring candidates for Burien City Council – read more about it here. Like our many previous forums, this one will be free and open to the public, and will even allow questioning of the candidates by audience members – be sure to mark you calendars.

“Every election brings interesting and important choices, but you need to be registered to vote,” said Elections Director Sherril Huff in a statement. “Voters who are already registered can help us make sure their ballots reach them and help lower election costs just by keeping their addresses up to date.”

Voters can check if their registration information is current by using Your Voter Guide online, by calling the Voter Hotline at 206-296-VOTE (8683), or by visiting King County Elections weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 919 Southwest Grady Way, Renton.

Voters who miss the July 18 deadline to update their registration should still contact the Elections office to update their information for future elections.
King County residents not currently registered in Washington can register in person at the Elections office through August 8.

Details and registration forms are available on the King County Elections website www.kingcounty.gov/elections. Online registration is available through the Secretary of State website at www.sos.wa.gov.

King County Elections recently returned to its Renton headquarters at 919 Southwest Grady Way. This location offers a wonderful viewing loop for the public to take a self-guided tour and observe the election process in action. The best days to visit are weekdays August 1 to 19, during business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, August 16).

How to register to vote

Registering to vote is easy:

• Register online
• Print a registration form and return it to Elections
• Visit the Elections office

Voter registration forms and updates submitted after voter registration deadlines will take effect after the August 2011 primary election.

Mark your calendars, thinking, involved B-Townies!

The next B-Town Blog Candidates Forum is set for Tuesday, July 26 at 7 p.m., and YOU are invited to attend, listen, learn and, if you wish, quiz the candidates yourself.

This one will feature the Burien City Council races.

All eight candidates running for the three open council seats, challengers and incumbents alike, have been invited, including:

Council Position No. 2 (incumbent: Lucy Krakowiak)

• Greg Duff
• Ed Dacy
• Lucy Krakowiak

Council Position No. 4 (incumbent: Gordon Shaw)

• Bob Edgar
• Joey Martinez
• Gordon M. Shaw

Council Position No. 6 (incumbent: Jerry Robison)

• Debi Wagner
• Jerry Robison

Here are the details:

WHAT: B-Town Blog Candidates Forum.

WHEN: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 starting at 7 p.m.

WHERE: The ERAC, (Educational Resource and Administrative Center), a Highline School District building located at 15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW in south Burien, across the street from Azteca Restaurant.

INFO: As the event draws nearer, we’ll announce the format and rules, but please keep the date open for what’s sure to be a lively, spirited and locally-relevant discussion.

The B-Town Blog is the only Burien-area media outlet that has sponsored Candidates Forums in the last few years – read about our previous debates here.

Filing closed last Friday (June 10) for candidates running for three open seats on the Burien City Council, and the latest one to send us info is Joey Martinez, who has filed to run for Position No. 4, which is currently held by Gordon Shaw.

Eight other candidates have filed (read our previous coverage here), and the primary (and special) election is set for Tuesday, Aug. 16th.

“I bring over 8 years of working (as an employee) in City Government, first for the City of Auburn and currently for the City of Seattle – City Light,” Martinez said. “I believe my employment experience of the inner workings of city government will be an asset on the Burien City Council, and especially to the great citizens of Burien.”

Martinez is against annexing White Center, wants to bring “business in from Tukwila,” and wants to increase activities for young adults in an effort to reduce crime.

Here’s more from an email he sent us:

Thank you and I ask for you vote so we work together and continue to make Burien a truly successful and special place.

On Annexation:
While I feel that White Center is a vibrant community with lots to offer, I find it difficult financially to support annexation at this time. I do believe that whoever annexes White Center, in 10-20 years, will be glad they did.

There is just so much that the residents of White Center need and deserve that it is asking a lot, maybe even too much, for Burien to pay for. King County has really done a disservice to White Center in neglecting so much of its infrastructure and more importantly its people. I do believe that adding White Center to Burien is the right thing to do, both in long term revenue to the City as well as increasing the quality of life to our neighbors to the north.  However, unless we got serious concessions from the King County Council I am not willing or able to support annexation.

The short term drain on our city finances to give White Center what they rightfully deserve is asking too much of Burien in this Great Recession. The short term drain on this community, I feel, would dig us into a hole so deep that we may never be able to get out. Asking our citizens to pay for what King County should have been paying the whole time is giving them a pass on the disservice to White Center. Let’s not give King County a pass.

On Business:
I feel that having a strong business presence is vital for making Burien successful. These businesses help pay for many of the services we Burien citizens expect and deserve. I feel that we need to work on getting the business we want and putting them where we want and need them. We need to get sustainable businesses that are interested in more than a quick buck. We need businesses that are proud to join our successful community, that want to take an active role, and that look forward to giving back to those who give so much to them. We also need businesses that bring people from other areas into Burien. I would not mind getting some business in from Tukwila. We do need to manage that carefully, and I would work to make sure we don’t become just another Mall.

On Crime:
I believe that prevention is key. The numbers are hard to quantify, however, if we get and keep our youth occupied and interested in activities such as the Arts, sports, and other learning activities such as reading they are less likely to become law breakers. If they, instead, become productive members of our community its both one less person to feed in jail and one more person that contributes to this community.

I would work to improve our partnership with the Highline School district to offer our kids the right activities at the right time of day and year. Doing so keeps the kids and young adults occupied so there is less time for law breaking. We could easily keep 4-5 kids out of trouble for the cost of locking one up.

Martinez is gunning for Gordon Shaw's council seat.

There will always be those who choose to violate the law. Some even become repeat customers to the judicial system. For those violent offenders I would not change a thing. However, for those who are non-violent or commit property crimes I would push for alternative solutions. Locking up someone has a cost per person of about $20 to $40 per day. I would look to increase home detention with alcohol and drug testing paid for, in part, by the offender. For those who cannot pay there are always alternatives like community service. I would actually push for more community service targeted to and correcting the law broken. If you like to vandalize property, you get to scrub the wall clean.

Only, if after given this chance to make it up to our community, the offender does not learn from past mistakes would I support time in jail. If they behave themselves in prison, I would be for early release with community service as listed above. Continue to break the law and your time increases.

Some people feel this is soft on crime. However, I feel this approach is more effective because I have seen the effect of those locked up first hand. First, they usually come out a smarter more dedicated criminal that will eventually go back for a more serious crime. Secondly, those left behind are also punished by the absence of there loved one. Those also punished are your neighbors, your co-workers, your church members, even some of you reading this. The current system of locking them up and throwing away the key has only lead to more prisons being built. The current system has only become effective in turning the United States into housing the largest prison population in the world per capita. This title in the land of the free is not something I am proud of and would be something I work against.

I am not saying to let rapists and murderers go free. What I am saying is let’s catch them before they break the law, and failing that, let’s help them learn from their early mistakes. Let’s not send them to Criminal University 101 and make a more dangerous criminal.

Early on we will be paying for both crime punishment as well as crime prevention/deterrence. I would work to setup a crime prevention/deterrence levy to pay for some of this. As our prisoner responsibility goes down I would work to transfer that money to lower the levy.

I am not for taxes in this tough economy, however, I am hopeful that giving the citizens of Burien the opportunity to reduce crime and increase community participation in the development of our youth and young adults will be seen as the right thing to do. We would need to work through many of the details to make this happen the right way. But it is something I believe everyone would benefit from.

- Joey Martinez
Martinez for Burien City Council

We’ll not only be featuring the other candidates on the blog, we’ll also be sponsoring forums soon, so be sure to check back often.

The filing deadline for Burien City Council and other area election candidates closed Friday, June 10th at 4 p.m., and nine candidates have filed for three council positions.

The primary (and special) election is set for Aug. 16th, and this is an interesting mix of both known and unknown names running for the B-Town council:

Council Position No. 2 (incumbent: Lucy Krakowiak)

• Greg Duff
• Ed Dacy
• Lucy Krakowiak

Council Position No. 4 (incumbent: Gordon Shaw)

• Bob Edgar
• Joey Martinez
• Diana Holman
• Gordon M. Shaw

Council Position No. 6 (incumbent: Jerry Robison)

• Debi Wagner
• Jerry Robison

As far as the King County Council District 8 race, where Joe McDermott is the incumbent, here’s the field:

• Joe McDermott
• Goodspaceguy
• Diana Toledo

We’ll be featuring profiles on each candidate between now and Aug. 16th, and as we’ve done many times before, we’re planning on sponsoring candidate forums, so check back often for dates and locations.

For more information on the candidates in this and other area races, visit www.kingcounty.gov/elections or to www.vote.wa.gov.

The Municipal League is seeking volunteers to serve on its 2011 Candidate Evaluation Committees (CEC), which provides the region’s only independent, non-partisan, non-agenda driven evaluation of candidates for public office.

Muni Leage ratings attempt to answer a fundamental question for voters:

How well could the candidate do the job?

Here’s more from a press release:

The League is a volunteer-driven, non-partisan, non-profit organization that has worked to ensure good government that is open, effective and accountable since 1910. Currently, the Municipal League is seeking volunteers to serve on its Candidate Evaluation Committees (CEC), comprised of dedicated volunteers of diverse backgrounds, ages, and political beliefs who evaluate candidates running for local offices in King County. Volunteer applications are due June 3, 2011 and may be submitted online at www.munileague.org.

Are you interested in making an impact on local politics this year?

The Municipal League is currently looking for volunteers to serve on our 2011 Candidate Evaluation Committees (CEC). Our program provides the region’s only independent, non-partisan, non-agenda driven evaluation of candidates for public office. Our ratings attempt to answer a fundamental question for voters: How well could the candidate do the job?

As a volunteer, you will be asked to dedicate a few weeknights in June and July to research, interview, and rate candidates. As a volunteer in the rating process, you will also be required to refrain from active involvement in campaigns or political parties during the election season and must step aside from the ratings process if you have connections to any candidate in any particular race.

Candidate ratings are based on four criteria—Knowledge, Involvement, Effectiveness and Character—as well as each candidate’s potential to serve their community. The ratings are not based on a candidate’s political affiliations or policy positions and provide King County voters with a non-partisan view so that they may make an informed choice in the primary and general elections.

If you are a King County resident interested in politics, local government, and networking in a unique environment, this is a great opportunity for you!

Volunteer applications are due June 3, 2011. To learn more about the Candidate Evaluation Committee program or to submit your application, please visit www.munileague.org or call 206.622.8333.