As King County District boundaries shift in the 2005 election, with the reduction of its council districts from 13 to nine, the dynamics of many races have been altered in the area's voter diversity as well as the candidates seeking office within them.
However, one of the largest political changes will be the incorporation of Capitol Hill, First Hill and the downtown area north of Yesler Way into the Metropolitan King County Council's District 4.
Once only serving the Greater Seattle communities of Magnolia, Queen Anne, Fremont and Ballard, District 4 now will serve more businesses, residences and a diversity of lifestyle interests.
Out of the integration of District 4 comes a race that will feature one of the only independent candidates running for county office this year, Ed Pottharst, against 14-year county councilmember and chairperson Larry Phillips, a longtime Magnolia resident.
Linking people
Just a few short weeks after his campaign kickoff, Pottharst is celebrating his "outstanding" rating from The Municipal League of King County. Pottharst, who is not only an independent candidate but also deaf, formally kicked off his campaign Aug. 17 with the collection of the required 100 signatures to run for county council in the general election this November.
Neighbors, friends and family of all walks and areas throughout Seattle milled around the Ballard Neighborhood Service Center off Market Street, as Pottharst promised he would be an active community partner to resolve constituents' concerns and "not become just a name on a ballot every four years."
Pottharst said he sees the redistricting of District 4 as regrettable due to the loss of representation at the county level for the massive population he now sets out to serve. However, he said he is eager for the chance to use his skills from the city's Department of Neighborhoods, where he worked as a neighborhood coordinator for the areas of Magnolia, Queen Anne, Northgate and Lake City.
"I have hired many people in the Department of Neighborhoods," said Brent Crook, formerly with the Department of Neighborhoods, "but none have exceeded the character of Ed. He has integrity and a grasp on community issues."
Linking communities
Considering himself to be a known community activist throughout District 4 and a catalyst for change, Pottharst described his decision to stay independent as an easy one, though not without its challenges. Being independent has become a crucial element in his leadership and his campaign, he said of his nonpartisan status.
Pottharst's campaign kickoff focused on his goals as a potential council member, most of which he stated have come from personal experience and the 5,000 constituents he has visited with at their homes or passing on the streets.
Relating the story of an elderly woman whom he met doorbelling in Magnolia - a woman facing the possibility that she would be unable to afford a smaller home in her community during retirement - Pottharst has been compelled to adopt the issue of housing into his campaign.
Noting that affordable housing is needed in all areas of Seattle, Pottharst said that, if elected, he plans on addressing the issue of housing by looking at such models as the city's Demonstration Program for Innovative Housing now under way in Fremont.
Pottharst also declared his intentions toward increasing the availability of transportation, such as light rail and bus service, as well as providing alternatives such as biking lanes throughout the county. By linking broken trails to smooth out bicycle commutes and by better publicizing routes, Pottharst said he hopes more people will opt to ride to work.
Pottharst, partly from his own experiences, sees one of his primary roles as a councilmember as ensuring that the county government, its programs and members are accessible to other governments, organizations and individuals.
"I'd like to be able to link up the city, the county and other community groups - including businesses, organizations, schools and individuals - to help the constituents' concerns and help individuals feel connected," Pottharst said. "Too often they don't know whom to turn to for help."
Preservation
As Pottharst made his nomination official, Larry Phillips' brochures promoting his reelection campaign were circulating throughout District 4. Distinctive blue-and-orange leaflets were sent out declaring "He's a BIG guy - but no concern of yours is too big for him."
Phillips, who stands 6 feet 5 inches tall, will stare directly into the eyes of his equally tall opponent in the months before the general election. Phillips, however, doesn't see Pottharst as strictly a political opponent. He said he has known Pottharst "for years, and I like and enjoy his company," he said.
Phillips has served as a King County council member since 1992, and currently serves as its chairperson, a position he's held since 2003. During his tenure on the council, Phillips has helped to preserve 1,800 acres of salmon habitat under the Waterways 2000 program. Additionally, he worked to establish the Snoqualmie Preservation Initiative, which preserves 100,000 acres of forestland around Snoqualmie Falls.
Phillips also noted that, most recently, the council has been working to redesign the elections department in hopes of avoiding a reoccurrence of last year's elections problems.
Looking toward reelection, Phillips said he remains committed to alleviating traffic problems within the county. "The lack of transportation is hurting the quality of life here in the city and county as well," he said. Phillips recently joined fellow councilmember Dwight Pelz in proposing a line connecting First Hill into the Sound Transit system.
Growth management
Additionally, in his 17 years of political experience, four of which were spent representing the 36th Legislative District, Phillips has committed to developing growth-management plans for the area.
Early in his career Phillips helped guide the Growth Management Act of 1991 through the Legislature, which was designed in response to rapid population growth and combating urban sprawl. Soon after its passage, however, Phillips found himself playing a central role in its implementation at the county level after being elected in 1991 to the county council.
His efforts in growth management continue today as the council's chairperson, working with "cities across the county securing public and private funding to ensure that development doesn't threaten the overgrowth of single-family and residential areas," Phillips said.
The biggest change during his reelection campaign, Phillips said, will be getting to know the newly incorporated areas of his district.
He said he remains wholly optimistic, however, citing his experience and dedication.
"I have the energy to build on that foundation that I have already started," he said. "It is an exciting time for King County, and I am excited to be a part of it."
Chantelle Lusebrink writes for the University of Washington News Lab.[[In-content Ad]]
