Comments on: County Exec Roundup http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/ Transit in the Greater Seattle Area Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:27:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Just Vote Already - Seattle Transit Blog http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/#comment-62907 Just Vote Already - Seattle Transit Blog Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:17:08 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=6739#comment-62907 [...] of course, you should also read our endorsements before you vote.  Our county exec roundup is also a good read.  And you can share how you voted here if you [...]
[...] of course, you should also read our endorsements before you vote.  Our county exec roundup is also a good read.  And you can share how you voted here if you [...]

]]> By: Zelbinian http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/#comment-60129 Zelbinian Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:18:34 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=6739#comment-60129 I'm pretty torn between Constantine and Hunter. I'm not (yet) wonky enough to really make an informed decision based on policy (I have my gut reactions here and there but not much else), so I all I really have to go on is style and background. The Sierra Club likes Constantine and their views very much align with my own. Then again, I agree that King County has more of a spending problem than a revenue problem and that Hunter would probably be able to do some good for the budget while promoting ToD. I'm really torn. I have a feeling I'm gonna end up tossing a coin and calling it good. This is a nice problem to have, though; seems like as long as the person elected is not named Hutchinson it appears as though we are in good hands.
I’m pretty torn between Constantine and Hunter. I’m not (yet) wonky enough to really make an informed decision based on policy (I have my gut reactions here and there but not much else), so I all I really have to go on is style and background.

The Sierra Club likes Constantine and their views very much align with my own. Then again, I agree that King County has more of a spending problem than a revenue problem and that Hunter would probably be able to do some good for the budget while promoting ToD.

I’m really torn. I have a feeling I’m gonna end up tossing a coin and calling it good. This is a nice problem to have, though; seems like as long as the person elected is not named Hutchinson it appears as though we are in good hands.

]]> By: Lloyd http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/#comment-60126 Lloyd Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:47:32 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=6739#comment-60126 Probably only serialcatowner and I will remember Alice Franklin Bryant, a perennial candidate for a host of offices in the 1950s and 1960s - she even took on Scoop jackson in the US Senate Primary at one point. With here squeaky voice and shock of white hair, she was a bulldog at debates, always advocating against McCarthyism, xenophobia and nuclear weapons proliferation - not popular causes then - a true Adlai Stevenson Democrat, the likes of which are rarely seen any more.
Probably only serialcatowner and I will remember Alice Franklin Bryant, a perennial candidate for a host of offices in the 1950s and 1960s – she even took on Scoop jackson in the US Senate Primary at one point. With here squeaky voice and shock of white hair, she was a bulldog at debates, always advocating against McCarthyism, xenophobia and nuclear weapons proliferation – not popular causes then – a true Adlai Stevenson Democrat, the likes of which are rarely seen any more.

]]> By: Mark http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/#comment-60055 Mark Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:25:02 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=6739#comment-60055 http://crosscut.com/2009/08/04/2009-election/19145/ Ted Van Dyk delivers his "kiss of death" to Ross Hunter
http://crosscut.com/2009/08/04/2009-election/19145/

Ted Van Dyk delivers his “kiss of death” to Ross Hunter

]]> By: ST Guy http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/#comment-60043 ST Guy Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:14:25 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=6739#comment-60043 RE: "There’s a lot of talk from everyone about increasing route productivity, but Hunter has the most interesting proposal: "[I would] tie increased availability of transit to demonstrated ability zone for and to permit additional transit-oriented development inside our urban growth boundary. This creates an incentive for more density. "Jarrett has made similar comments. This plan implies that most Metro cuts would fall on cul-de-sac neighborhoods, with the emphasis on maintaining service in high-ridership corridors. These corridors are the most productive for Metro." Hunter's proposal is just like what Metro (then independent) did with the City of Bellevue 30 years ago. The city rezoned its downtown area to highrise residential and office and put in some modest caps on parking -- a complete transformation from the suburban office/shopping center patch it was then. In response, Metro agreed to some large number of additional service hours every year, over and above what the area would have received otherwise. It's taken a long time but downtown Bellevue is now a real downtown, and Metro and transit had at least a little to do with that.
RE: “There’s a lot of talk from everyone about increasing route productivity, but Hunter has the most interesting proposal:

“[I would] tie increased availability of transit to demonstrated ability zone for and to permit additional transit-oriented development inside our urban growth boundary. This creates an incentive for more density.

“Jarrett has made similar comments. This plan implies that most Metro cuts would fall on cul-de-sac neighborhoods, with the emphasis on maintaining service in high-ridership corridors. These corridors are the most productive for Metro.”

Hunter’s proposal is just like what Metro (then independent) did with the City of Bellevue 30 years ago. The city rezoned its downtown area to highrise residential and office and put in some modest caps on parking — a complete transformation from the suburban office/shopping center patch it was then. In response, Metro agreed to some large number of additional service hours every year, over and above what the area would have received otherwise.

It’s taken a long time but downtown Bellevue is now a real downtown, and Metro and transit had at least a little to do with that.

]]> By: Erik G. http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/#comment-60042 Erik G. Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:08:23 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=6739#comment-60042 AND WHY, WHY, are you ignoring Goodspaceguy? "Goodspaceguy wants better Sky Homes than Vancouver, Canada has built." http://your.kingcounty.gov/elections/pamphlet/pamphlet.aspx?cid=32564&eid=1230#c10913 And really now, isn't Stan Lippman's turn?
AND WHY, WHY, are you ignoring Goodspaceguy?

“Goodspaceguy wants better Sky Homes than Vancouver, Canada has built.”

http://your.kingcounty.gov/elections/pamphlet/pamphlet.aspx?cid=32564&eid=1230#c10913

And really now, isn’t Stan Lippman’s turn?

]]> By: Mark http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/#comment-60015 Mark Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:53:07 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=6739#comment-60015 "I will focus on reducing overhead costs in both Sound Transit and Metro, and will consider selective merging of the agencies to reduce overhead while retaining control of route distribution in King County." Err, ST already contracts out its service to Metro. What else is there to combine? The two agencies have different charges...Metro is virtually all operating, and ST is virtually all capital. Maybe ST's project managers can start doing route planning? Also, has Ross Hunter figured out that King County is only half of the ST district, in terms of population served? Do you think folks in Pierce and Snohomish would want ST doing King County's work - or King County doing ST's work? I think Hunter hasn't done his homework. Or, he has fallen victim to the Jarrett "academia vacuum".
“I will focus on reducing overhead costs in both Sound Transit and Metro, and will consider selective merging of the agencies to reduce overhead while retaining control of route distribution in King County.”

Err, ST already contracts out its service to Metro. What else is there to combine? The two agencies have different charges…Metro is virtually all operating, and ST is virtually all capital.

Maybe ST’s project managers can start doing route planning?

Also, has Ross Hunter figured out that King County is only half of the ST district, in terms of population served? Do you think folks in Pierce and Snohomish would want ST doing King County’s work – or King County doing ST’s work?

I think Hunter hasn’t done his homework. Or, he has fallen victim to the Jarrett “academia vacuum”.

]]> By: Carl http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/#comment-60012 Carl Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:29:31 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=6739#comment-60012 I agree that Jarrett is hard to trust. He also hasn't raised much money so he's not likely to win. I'm concerned about Dow Constantine having too many ties to unions and being unable to shake things up - and face it, King County has a spending problem more than a revenue problem. The new executive has to be able to shake things up and deliver more results for the money. I support Ross Hunter because I think he's a smart guy and hard worker and that he's learned how to be effective even while taking on sacred cows. I think King County exec is about more than just transit but I think the Ross understand transit is an important part of the job, as is zoning and land use.
I agree that Jarrett is hard to trust. He also hasn’t raised much money so he’s not likely to win.

I’m concerned about Dow Constantine having too many ties to unions and being unable to shake things up – and face it, King County has a spending problem more than a revenue problem. The new executive has to be able to shake things up and deliver more results for the money.

I support Ross Hunter because I think he’s a smart guy and hard worker and that he’s learned how to be effective even while taking on sacred cows. I think King County exec is about more than just transit but I think the Ross understand transit is an important part of the job, as is zoning and land use.

]]> By: JesseMT http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/#comment-60008 JesseMT Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:41:39 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=6739#comment-60008 For me, I just don't trust Fred Jarrett after this year's East Link fiasco in the legislature. I know he tried to come up with a bit of a fix toward the end, but I still don't feel like I can go there when there's three other good choices. Otherwise, I'm very undecided. It seems like a much stronger field than the Seattle Mayor's race.
For me, I just don’t trust Fred Jarrett after this year’s East Link fiasco in the legislature. I know he tried to come up with a bit of a fix toward the end, but I still don’t feel like I can go there when there’s three other good choices.

Otherwise, I’m very undecided. It seems like a much stronger field than the Seattle Mayor’s race.

]]> By: Jessica http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/#comment-59998 Jessica Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:04:53 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=6739#comment-59998 This is my first time paying attention to local races (I know "and how many years have I lived in King County?" - I moved from Virginia in August 2000 to start at UW) Not sure who I'm going to vote for. And just because I live in Bellevue does not mean I automatically endorse ESR
This is my first time paying attention to local races (I know “and how many years have I lived in King County?” – I moved from Virginia in August 2000 to start at UW)

Not sure who I’m going to vote for. And just because I live in Bellevue does not mean I automatically endorse ESR

]]> By: Chris Stefan http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/#comment-59996 Chris Stefan Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:19:56 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=6739#comment-59996 Personally I'm on the fence between Dow and Fred, not to say Larry and Ross aren't also good candidates in their own way, but I think Dow and Fred are more likely to get what they want to do done. The biggest issue I think beyond who would be the best on transit and land use is who is most likely to be able to beat Hutchison in the Fall. She'd be at best ineffective leaving the County with a leadership vacuum and at worst truly dangerous and destructive as she did the bidding of the Discovery Institute, Evergreen Freedom Foundation, BIAW, and Kemper Development Corporation. The other races are proving to be a bit easier to make a choice in though in some cases I'll still have a tough choice in the fall if my two favorite candidates make it past the primary.
Personally I’m on the fence between Dow and Fred, not to say Larry and Ross aren’t also good candidates in their own way, but I think Dow and Fred are more likely to get what they want to do done. The biggest issue I think beyond who would be the best on transit and land use is who is most likely to be able to beat Hutchison in the Fall. She’d be at best ineffective leaving the County with a leadership vacuum and at worst truly dangerous and destructive as she did the bidding of the Discovery Institute, Evergreen Freedom Foundation, BIAW, and Kemper Development Corporation.

The other races are proving to be a bit easier to make a choice in though in some cases I’ll still have a tough choice in the fall if my two favorite candidates make it past the primary.

]]> By: Martin H. Duke http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/#comment-59994 Martin H. Duke Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:12:52 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=6739#comment-59994 Contrary to what Adam said, not in this style. We are doing endorsements, starting tomorrow. We highlighted the exec race because it's so important and because the differences are so fine.
Contrary to what Adam said, not in this style. We are doing endorsements, starting tomorrow.

We highlighted the exec race because it’s so important and because the differences are so fine.

]]> By: Gary http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/#comment-59991 Gary Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:14:59 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=6739#comment-59991 Got an email that Cascade Bicycle club was supporting Dow Constantine. (for what it's worth.)
Got an email that Cascade Bicycle club was supporting Dow Constantine. (for what it’s worth.)

]]> By: Adam B. Parast http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/#comment-59979 Adam B. Parast Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:28:00 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=6739#comment-59979 Yup. They are in the works.
Yup. They are in the works.

]]> By: Tim http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/08/04/county-exec-round-up/#comment-59978 Tim Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:22:29 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=6739#comment-59978 Is STB going to do a roundup for other positions up for election?
Is STB going to do a roundup for other positions up for election?

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