No, it wasn't high school picture day – this is Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon's official House photo.

Leaders in the House have picked Burien’s own Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (who represents the 34th District) to serve on four different committees, including Environment, Transportation, Local Government, and General Government Appropriations and Oversight committees.

Fitzgibbon officially began work on those committees on Monday, Jan. 10th, when the legislative session commenced.

According to a press release:

The House Environment Committee is new this session, and works on issues including Puget Sound, state parks, and climate change.

“The work we need to do on environmental and climate change issues has only just begun,” said Fitzgibbon, D-Burien. “We must act immediately to clean up Puget Sound and to reduce our global warming impact.”

The Transportation Committee oversees all transportation modes in our state, including state highways, ferries, transit and rail.

“Safe and well-maintained roads, transit, and ferries are essential to my district’s economic vitality,” Fitzgibbon said. “Families want a robust network of transportation choices, and I will be working to protect and expand the transit choices in our communities and to repair our ailing ferry system.”

The Local Government Committee handles growth management and land use, county and city financing, and other issues.

“I will be working to strengthen our growth management laws, which protect our environment and facilitate efficient delivery of local services,” Fitzgibbon said.

The General Government Appropriations and Oversight Committee prepares the budget for a broad array of state agencies, including prisons, natural resource agencies, and the judiciary.

“While we must tighten our belts during this difficult budget year,” said Fitzgibbon, “my work on this committee will seek to ensure that these cuts do not undermine the safety of the public or the health of our environment.”

Fitzgibbon will spend at least 20 hours per week in public committee hearings. The legislative session is scheduled to end April 24.

Reminder, fellow concerned and involved citizens, The B-Town Blog is hosting a sure-to-be exciting Candidates Debate tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 28, in Burien, from 7pm to 8:15pm, featuring the two candidates vying for Dow Constantine’s former seat on the King County Council.

The two candidates are:

• Joe McDermott, current 34th district State Senator.
• Diana Toledo. She is a former King County employee (15 years) and self-described whistle blower on “gross mismanagement and waste of taxpayer dollars” in King County government.

Diana Toledo

The seat is currently held by Jan Drago, who is not running for re-election.

The debate will be held at the ERAC, a Highline School District building located at 15675 Ambaum Blvd SW, across from the Azteca Restaurant and just north of Hi-Line Lanes in Burien.

The event will be moderated by Dr. T.M. Sell, who teaches Political Science and Journalism at Highline Community College. One of the panelists will be Dr. Arun Jhaveri, first mayor of Burien.

This is the third Candidates Forum/Debate to be sponsored by The B-Town Blog this campaign season. The two earlier events, featuring candidates for the State House of Representatives and King County Council, were moderated by John Carlson of KOMO-AM and Dave Ross of KIRO-FM.

Joe McDermott

The debate format will consist of three panelists asking questions for the first half or so with questions then coming from YOU, the public. There is no cover charge and anyone and everyone is welcome to attend.

Hope to see you there!

(Election Day is November 2. Delivery of ballots to registered voters will begin in mid-October. There still is time for you to register if you have not already done so. For more information, call 206-296-VOTE during regular business hours.)

After a second day of counting ballots cast in the Aug. 17 primary election, Joe McDermott maintains a lopsided lead in the King County Council race from District 8.

McDermott has almost 60 percent of the votes counted in the district with the release of updated totals by King County Elections on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 18).

Diana Toledo at The B-Town Blog's Candidates Forum July 20th. Photo by Michael Brunk.

Diana Toledo appears headed for a second-place finish with 19.69 percent of the vote. The top two finishers qualify for the Nov. 2 general election ballot.

Normandy Park City Councilman and former mayor Shawn McEvoy is third with 13.14 percent of the vote. Tim Fahey, a South Park carpenter who based his campaign on getting a new bridge there, has 6.89 percent.

The totals for McDermott and McEvoy increased slightly, while those for Toledo and Fahey slipped a little – but all changes were well under 1 percent.

Ballots cast by 26.62 percent of voters in the district have been counted. Unreported is how many of its 109,557 registered voters mailed in ballots:

METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT NO. 8

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: *

28,466

/

109,557

25.98%

County Council District No. 8 Unexpired 1-year Term

Diana Toledo

4,879

19.63%

Tim Fahey

1,711

6.89%

Joe McDermott

14,859

59.79%

Shawn McEvoy

3,265

13.14%

Write-in

136

0.55%

“I’m surprised with how high [his vote total] was,” McDermott told The B-Town Blog. “I thought I would place first, but had no idea it would be with numbers as high as I received last night. I’m very pleased.”

Toledo said she is “very excited and looking forward to working very hard over the next few months to close the gap [with McDermott] and to win in November. I’m encouraged by my numbers given the fact that I came into the race so late.”

If Toledo holds her primary position, which now appears likely, the election for this seat will take on a pivotal dimension for the King County Council despite the fact that she is a long shot.

McDermott, who has served 10 years in the Legislature, seven in the House and the last three in the Senate, will continue to run on his record as a liberal Democrat from West Seattle, which he points to with pride.

“I think voters will continue to have a strong choice and I look forward to continuing to knock on as many doors as I can and talk to as many voters as I can about transit and transport, environmental protection, human services and public safety, as I have thus far in the campaign,” he added.”

A political newcomer from West Seattle, Toledo, who worked for King County for 15 years, campaigned on conservative themes – government reform, reduce spending and taxes, cut waste, and public safety as the top priority.

She planned to hit the ground running the day after the primary to increase her visibility and “tell voters who I am and point out the differences between Joe and me. I have a lot of people supporting me and I believe that that number is going to grow.”

They are running to fill the council position vacated by Dow Constantine when he was elected county executive last year. The winner will serve one year, then must run for election to a full four-year term in 2011.

Both highlighted their opposing positions in interviews with The B-Town Blog.

Joe McDermott at our July 20th Candidates Forum. Photo by Michael Brunk.

McDermott:

“I’ve had the opportunity over the last 10 years to demonstrate my priorities and my values in my service in the Legislature. They have meshed well with the district I represented and they mesh well with the larger 8th County District. It is those priorities and those values that I took to the voters, asking them to support me in yesterday’s primary.

“Certainly the council positions are now non-partisan and I have a track record of working with a variety of people in Olympia and I look forward to continuing to do that if elected to the county council. At the same time, I think the voters have a right to know what my values and priorities are and a party label is an initial indicator of that to the public.”

Toledo:

“Shawn McEvoy ran a great race. I’m very honored that I have been able to make it through to the general election. I’m grateful for the support from all the people who believe in the issues that are part of my campaign – who want change in King County government, who want reform in King County government.

“We can’t afford politics as usual. We can’t sustain unsustainable budgets. King County cannot afford to continue the excesses of career politicians and career appointees whose policies have devastated our communities, a projected budget deficit of $60 million next year, with talk of sales and property taxes and the slashing of law enforcement positions. We have to protect our senior citizens who are being taxed out of their homes.”

Illustration by Michael Owsley.

Can Toledo win despite McDermott’s lead? “I have to. We’ve got too much to lose.”

But McEvoy isn’t ready to concede the race. “It’s going to be one of those multi-day adventures,” he said about the continuing vote count. Elections will continue to update results at 4:30 p.m. every weekday through Aug. 31.

“I’d rather be in second place, but I’m not that concerned. I’m looking forward the late vote during the rest of the week. That’s where I’ll swing back.”

He added, “My goal always was to be in second place in the primary. The race is still on. It’s the first turn of the horse race.”

Fahey expressed hope that the second posting of votes would improve his fortunes. With that apparently not in the cards, “Diana has my complete and absolute endorsement. I agree with her platform, she’s bright, and I’ll be delighted to have her as my councilman. I don’t think there is any way I can come close at this point, and I will campaign for her.”

He added, “I’m happy. We didn’t make it but I’m happy. I did something I never thought that I’d do … I will continue to work to see that a new bridge is built and that things like this don’t happen again. This is a silly way to run a government.”

We at The B-Town Blog are pleased to announce our next Candidates Forum, sure to be as memorable as the one we hosted a couple months back.

This one will be Tuesday, July 20, 7pm – 8:45pm in the boardroom of the Highline School District’s E.R.A.C. Building (15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW), featuring the four candidates vying for Dow Constantine’s former seat on the King County Council.

Moderator for the evening will be longtime local newsman and radio talk show host Dave Ross. Dave’s show airs 9am to noon Monday through Friday on 97.3 KIRO-FM.

All four candidates for the seat have been invited and all four have agreed to attend.

They are:

• Tim Fahey, professional carpenter and South Park resident.
• Joe McDermott, current 34th district state senator.
• Shawn McEvoy, former Normandy Park mayor and current Normandy Park city councilmember.
• Diana Toledo, former King County employee and self-described whistle blower on King County management and government.

We hosted a candidates forum in April featuring the four candidates for 34th District State Representative, Position 2, and it was a memorable one.

The moderator for that event was John Carlson of radio station KVI, who sent the room into an off-format sub-freezing conservative chill, clubbing the candidates like baby seals with his “cut spending now” Smackdown Stick.

(Yes, dedicated Readers, slight embellishment added.)

Like last time, the July 20 format is to have area journalists ask questions for the first half or so, followed by questions from the public. There is no admission charge and anyone and everyone is welcome to attend.

Dave Ross will moderate.

We asked Dave Ross if he would moderate this one with what we call his “balancing brand of common sense.” Ever the gentleman, Dave readily agreed. All evidence shows Dave owns no Smackdown Stick, but does have ready access to The Gavel of Evenhanded Wisdom.

The 8th District council seat everyone is duking it out for is currently held by Jan Drago, who is not running for election.

The primary is August 17. Mail-in ballots will be sent to registered voters later this month. The two candidates garnering the most votes advance to the general election in November.

There are two major rumors surrounding this July 20 affair.

1. One is that surviving members of Led Zeppelin will be staying at the Edgewater in Seattle that very same night, fishing from their windows, with the newly retired Helen Thomas pounding the drum skins in place of the late John Bonham.

Rumor rating: Unlikely.

2. The second rumor is that following the candidates forum, audience members are informally invited to make their way from the event to a nearby Burien eatery for (no-host) food and fizz. Plus some lively discussion.

Rumor rating: Likely.

by Ralph Nichols

Normandy Park City Councilman Shawn McEvoy says it’s time the Highline area is represented by someone who lives here, and not in West Seattle.

So McEvoy, now serving his second term as an elected member of the city council (he was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2002), recently announced that he is a candidate for the county council from District 8.

The district includes Normandy Park, Burien, the western reaches of SeaTac and Tukwila, North Highline, West Seattle, Vashon and Maury Islands.

McEvoy makes an obvious point.

Former District 8 King County Councilman Dow Constantine, who was elected county executive last fall, lives in West Seattle. So does his replacement to the District 8 seat, former Seattle City Councilwoman Jan Drago.

District 34 State Sen. Joe McDermott, who is not seeking re-election so he can run for Drago’s seat, also lives in West Seattle – as does District 34 State Rep. Eileen Cody.

“I think the voters [in these districts] outside of West Seattle feel under represented, even ignored,” McEvoy said. “The political process is heavily skewed to West Seattle. We want representation …

“I have the qualifications, I have the experience, and I can do a better job than the other guy,” he continued. “I understand the issues of King County, the problems and challenges facing King County, and the issues in District 8.”

His time on the city council – including serving four years as Normandy Park mayor – also gives him the “demonstrated experience to develop a responsible budget, the demonstrated experience to respond to public concerns, and demonstrated leadership skills.”

King County Council District 8 includes Normandy Park, Burien, the western reaches of SeaTac and Tukwila, North Highline, West Seattle, and Vashon and Maury Islands.

McEvoy also points with pride to his “strong environmental record,” including salmon habitat recovery efforts in Miller Creek and the Cove that received national recognition from Trout Unlimited.

He is on the steering committee for Water Resource Inventory Area 9, which is responsible for Chinook salmon protection in the Duwamish/Green River watershed.

A five-point “immediate action plan” is the framework for McEvoy’s campaign:

• Better communication by King County government with the public.
• Enhanced county partnerships with the cities.
• Ensure that “service levels and funding match. “If we haven’t got the money, don’t spend it.”
• Stabilize funding of county services.
• “Work with county employees to solve problems” from budget-cutting job furloughs to streamlining the way services are provided “to make the county better to work for all of us.”

These address what McEvoy called King County’s “image and relationship problems with mayors, city councils – and citizens,” who see county government as “bloated, dictatorial, inefficient and Seattle-centric.”

In the interview, which took place before this week’s county council vote on a proposed sales tax increase and then a proposed property tax “reallocation” to help fund the sheriff’s and prosecutor’s offices and the courts, McEvoy said, “I’m a strong believer in public safety.

“When [Sheriff] Sue Rahr and [Prosecutor] Dan Satterberg tell me it’s important to have these funds [generated by a 2-cent increase in the sales tax], I believe them.”

Asked about contracts negotiated by public employee unions, which include pay raises and benefit increases at a time the county is facing another multi-million-dollar revenue shortfall, McEvoy added he would “certainly support a study to see if public contracts are in line with the private sector … or not.

“Whether we look to the unions as a first place to cut, [the cost of county government] is still an open question. But public safety and public health are, to me, number one.”

Noting a recent Puget Sound Regional Council projection that the area will experience a lot of growth by 2040, McEvoy said more roads probably will be needed.

He added his interest in “quicker buses” that provide service every 10 minutes to provide “a good, cost-effective people mover.”

Although he was “initially skeptical of light rail,” McEvoy said “it has started to make sense to me … we need to look at all [transportation] options and go with what makes sense.”

But county residents “don’t see much in return” for the taxes they pay the county,” he continued. A “classic example” is the way Metro bus service was reallocated. Although more routes were supposed to go to the county rather than Seattle, “it hasn’t worked out that way.”

[PHOTO CREDIT: City of Normandy Park]

by Mark Neuman

Receiving about two-thirds of the votes cast, Marcee Stone earned the endorsement of the 34th District Democrats last night (May 12), in the race to replace Sharon Nelson as State Representative, Position 2.

The 34th District covers most of Burien, and all of Vashon and Maury Islands, White Center and West Seattle.

Contender Joe Fitzgibbon came in second with the remaining votes.

Candidate Mike Heavey, in the early minutes of the meeting, surprised many by withdrawing his name from contention for the coveted endorsement.

“I am still in the race,” Heavey told The B-Town Blog. “With respect to the 34th District Democratic organization, I could see I did not have the degree of support that Marcee and Joe had. So to streamline the (endorsement) process and keep the meeting moving, I took my name out.”

Heavey said he has more “cash on hand” than each of his opponents have and that he intends to advance into the general election.

The primary election is August 17. Mail-in voting begins in late July.

“I wish we’d gotten the endorsement. But this is just one of many endorsements I am seeking." - Joe Fitzgibbon

Fitzgibbon told The B-Town Blog “I wish we’d gotten the endorsement. But this is just one of many endorsements I am seeking. It’s onward and upward. I’ll be knocking on doors and working to win the primary.”

Regarding Heavey’s removing his name from endorsement contention, Fitzgibbon said “Mike made a very practical decision. The 34 District organization is a group who has known each other a long time. He knew it would be an uphill fight for him (to win the endorsement).”

Stone told The B-Town Blog Wednesday night “I am very happy to have won this endorsement. I could not have done this without the help of many wonderful supporters and volunteers.”

A fourth candidate in the race is local businessman and Navy veteran Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy. He is running as an independent.

Contacted by The B-Town Blog Thursday (May 13) McElroy said “I congratulate Marcee on her endorsement. I welcome her as the top contender, and I’d like to express my enthusiasm for lively debate and the opportunity to serve the people of the 34 th District through the democratic process.”

State Rep. Sharon Nelson is running for the State Senate from the 34th District.

by Ralph Nichols

Candidate filing for this year’s primary and general elections doesn’t begin for another month, but the four hopefuls for state representative from the 34th Legislative District, Position 2, are already on the campaign trail.

And Joe Fitzgibbon, Mike Heavey, Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy and Marcee Stone brought their campaigns to Burien on Tuesday April 27 for an exchange of views on a variety of issues in a forum moderated by KVI/KOMO Radio talk show host John Carlson and sponsored by The B-Town Blog.

They are running to replace Rep. Sharon Nelson who, in turn, is running to replace state Sen. Joe McDermott, now a candidate for King County Council, Position 8.

The first question focused on Washington’s bottom line: with an anticipated revenue shortfall of $2 billion next year, where would they cut the state budget? Especially if voters again pass an initiative to require a 2/3 majority vote in the Legislature to raise taxes or impose new ones?

Stone said she does not believe in cutting “essential services” including health care and education. “I believe in tax reform,” but Initiative 1077 to establish an income tax on high earners “does not go far enough,” she added. “It doesn’t address the sales tax.”

“Clearly we have to prioritize spending, McElroy said. “We have to listen to our constituents.” He noted that there is “no objective measurement of success” for spending on education.

Heavey rejected the premise that voters are going to re-institute the supermajority requirement for tax increases, which would let the legislature fill the revenue gap with new taxes.

“The Legislature cut $4 billion from the budget in the last two years,” Fitzgibbon said. “I don’t think there are many places for us to cut from. I don’t think the voters will ask us to cut another $2 billion.”

Asked what programs they would cut, only McElroy suggested a specific target. Because “you can’t spend money you don’t have,” he would “cut state environmental programs right off the bat for two years.”

Stone said she would eliminate tax incentives to large corporations like Boeing and Microsoft.

But Fitzgibbon said he “will not vote for any budget that cuts state spending another $2 billion.”

Heavey defended education funding but offered no specific program cuts.

Fitzgibbon said his first legislative priority would be comprehensive tax reform. He supports I-1077 and, “if it is not successful, we need a backup plan.” That would include a state value added tax (VAT) and a tax on polluters.

Heavey said he would make full funding of public schools a priority and indicated that he, too, supports I-1077.

“I would streamline the process to give greater information to small businesses … that helps keep small businesses in businesses,” McElroy said.

Stone’s top legislative priority would be a pro-union move to exempt employees from attending “meetings imposed by their employer.”

None of the four supports enactment of a Washington law similar to the measure recently enacted in Arizona, which mandates state enforcement of federal immigration laws to stem the tide of illegal immigrants and denies state benefits to persons who are there illegally.

During her response on this subject, Stone paused to object “to the conservative tone of the questions” being asked.

McElroy said such a state law is “not pragmatic” and “would cost more than it’s worth.”

Saying he did not support the Arizona law, Heavey added, “We’re a nation built on immigrants … every Nazi movie begins with, ‘Show me your papers.’”

Fitzgibbon thinks the law is unconstitutional because of racial profiling, and that it will be overturned in the federal courts.

Each candidate also expressed support for increased funding for mass transit, primarily light rail, while indicating no interest for increasing highway traffic lanes to reduce congestion.

Responding to Burien City Councilwoman Kathy Keene’s inquiry about a $1.50 per barrel of oil tax to pay for stormwater control required of local governments, which was considered during this year’s legislative session, Fitzgibbon replied “it is absolutely the right thing to do to ask polluters to pay.”

Heavey also said “it is absolutely the right thing to do.”

Stone said the state needs “to make sure we have a way to take care of this runoff … I have no problem with taxing … corporate profits.”

McElroy, however, said if such a program is mandated by the federal government, “then the federal government should, by God, pay for it.”

Asked by former Burien City Councilman Stephen Lamphear if they support removing the state sales tax exemption for providers of professional services, Stone said yes, Heavey indicated his support, and Fitzgibbon gave it a “qualified yes” to avoid a pyramid effect. McElroy said “leave the exemption where it is.”

The deadline for candidate filings with King County elections is June 11. In-person filing begins June 7, filing by mail begins May 21, and filing online begins the first Monday in June and continues through the following Friday.

AUDIO: Here’s the audio of the forum in its entirety (running time is 1-hour and 25-minutes; click the “Play” button to listen):

[display_podcast]

PHOTOS: Here’s a Photo Slideshow of the evening, as shot by Scott Schaefer:

Click to Play Scott Schaefer’s Photo Slideshow

The first-ever B-Town Blog Candidates Forum will be held this Tuesday night, April 27th, from 7pm – 8:30pm at the Highline Performing Arts Center, located at 401 South 152nd Street next to Highline High School in Burien.

This free forum will be hosted by KVI Radio Host John Carlson, and it should be a lively event (you do the math: conservative radio talk show host + 3 Dems + 1 Indie + a stage + YOU = ???).

The goal of the forum of course is to allow YOU, our Readers a chance to actually question the candidates yourself, in hopes that it will help make your mind up for the primary election, which will be held Aug. 17th.

KVI's John Carlson will host.

In alphabetical order by last name, here are the four candidates you’ll get to grill:

• Joe Fitzgibbon
• Mike Heavey
• Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy
• Marcee Stone

Remember, one of the four candidates you’ll meet Tuesday night will go on to become your new representative in Olympia in January 2011.

So come on down and let them know what’s on your mind!

There have been some great, classic Candidate Debates in political history:

• Lincoln-Douglas 1860
• Kennedy-Nixon 1960
• Carter-Reagan 1980
• Carlson-Locke 2000 (Carlson-Locke? Well, anyway…)

And now…the 34th District Candidates Forum…2010!

Yes, our fellow Americans, you heard read it here first. You read it here because we – your neighborhood journalistic watchdog and deliverer of digital facts, The B-Town Blog – is pleased to announce that we’ll be hosting a gathering of the four announced candidates for 34th District State Representative, Position 2.

It’ll be held Tuesday, April 27, from 7pm to 8:30pm at the Highline Performing Arts Center, next door to Highline High School on SW 152nd in Burien.

We’re expecting a big turnout and a lot of energy at this event. Since no incumbent is running (current State Representative Sharon Nelson is running for the Senate this go-round) this is the first open seat for Position 2 in quite a while.

In alphabetical order by last name, here are the four candidates you get to grill:

• Joe Fitzgibbon
• Mike Heavey
• Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy
• Marcee Stone

The source of most of the questions to be asked will be YOU, the curious and informed citizen. Yep, you can ask whatever you want. No kidding. This event is open to everyone and there is, of course, no cover charge.

Remember, one of the four candidates you’ll meet April 27 will go on to become your new representative in Olympia in January. So let them know what’s on your mind! Bring your neighbor. Bring your friend. Bring your vote-canceling spouse!

The primary is set for August 17. The two candidates with the highest number of votes move on to duke it out in the General Election, set for November 2. We’ll be covering that for you, too.

As the big day gets closer, we’ll be announcing more info on the format, so be sure to stay tuned (you can subscribe to our RSS Feed here).

Aren’t you glad you don’t live in North Korea or Cuba? Nights like April 27 just don’t happen often in those parts.

On Monday (March 22), Burien Planning Commission Chair and Legislative Aide Joe Fitzgibbon announced that he was throwing his hat into the ring for the 34th District’s race for State Representative, in the seat being vacated by outgoing Rep. Sharon Nelson.

Fitzgibbon, a former legislative aide for Rep. Nelson, will be going up against several other area candidates, including:

• Mike Heavey
• Sabra Schneider
• Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy
• Marcee Stone

If elected, Fitzgibbon would be the first Burien resident in the Legislature since 1994. He is currently the only candidate in the race from Burien.

Fitzgibbon is endorsed by his former boss, Rep. Nelson, Rep. Dave Upthegrove of the 33rd District and Burien City Councilmember Brian Bennett.

The 34th District covers Burien, White Center, Burien, West Seattle, and Vashon and Maury Islands.

Here’s Joe’s press release:

BURIEN—Joe Fitzgibbon, legislative assistant for outgoing Rep. Sharon Nelson and chair of the Burien Planning Commission, today announced his candidacy for Nelson’s seat.

“I am running because the 34th District needs new ideas, a fresh perspective on the challenges facing our communities, and real Olympia experience to hit the ground running,” said Fitzgibbon, a longtime 34th LD resident making his first run for public office. “I am the only candidate in this race with local and state experience, and I plan to campaign full time for the job.”

Nelson, who is seeking election to the State Senate, said, “I am excited to endorse Joe. He is highly respected in Olympia, both by legislators and staff, and has forged strong relationships that make him uniquely suited to represent our district in the Legislature. Our successes in reforming payday lending, protecting Maury Island and Puget Sound, and building an alliance of progressive legislators committed to working families and environmental protection owe a great deal to Joe’s policy knowledge and relationship-building.”

Representative Dave Upthegrove of the 33rd District also endorsed Fitzgibbon’s candidacy, noting, “In order to move the Legislature to act on critical local issues like job creation and cleaning Puget Sound, we need dedicated, hard-working leaders in the House of Representatives. I know that Joe is exceptionally well-prepared to be the kind of lawmaker that we need in Olympia and am looking forward to serving with him.”

Burien City Councilmember Brian Bennett, a former colleague of Fitzgibbon’s on the Burien Planning Commission, stated, “Joe is exactly the strong, progressive leader we need in Olympia. As Chair of the Burien Planning Commission, Joe has taken tough stands on complex, controversial issues, including land use, transportation alternatives, density, and protection of sensitive shorelines. Too often, our elected officials don’t exercise the leadership we need to get progressive policies in place, but Joe has demonstrated that he will be a strong, courageous State Representative.”

Fitzgibbon would be the first Burien resident elected to the Legislature since 1994 and is the only candidate in the race from Burien.

Fitzgibbon noted, “I am proud of my work on behalf of West Seattle, Burien, North Highline, and Vashon during my service in the Legislature for the past three years. From tax reform to helping small businesses to funding our schools and colleges, we need focused, proven leadership. I look forward to the opportunities ahead.”