Robert Sondheim has made it official. After mulling it over for months, a co-owner of the popular Rosebud restaurant on East Pike Street and the former president of the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, is running for a seat on the Seattle City Council. His official campaign kickoff took place at the restaurant on Thursday, July 5.
While it's his first foray into putting himself before voters, it's not his first attempt at joining the council. Sondheim applied for the position Jim Compton vacated in January 2006. While that effort was sincere, he readily acknowledges that his chances were slim. More than 100 prospective candidates vied for the seat that eventually went to Sally Clark. Participants were given five minutes in front of the council to stake their claim to the position. Sondheim prepared his statement, presented himself and, like all but six finalists, wasn't invited back.
"It was a cattle call, a brief audition. You said your piece and you were done. They had to go through a lot of candidates very quickly," he said.
Regarding his previous effort, Sondheim said he thinks the council wanted to stay in safe territory by choosing Clark. And the idea of serving on the council stayed with him.
"They wanted someone who wouldn't stand out too much, someone who wouldn't make waves," he said. "And I think they also wanted someone they knew, someone who was kind of like them."
In his view, the council needs someone who will be more aggressive on the legislative base paths. Someone, he says without hesitation, like Robert Sondheim.
LONG TIES
Sondheim is a fourth-generation Seattleite and describes himself as a person with a lifelong interest in politics. After graduating from college with a degree in political science, he served as former state Rep. Ken Eikenberry's associate campaign manager as well as his legislative assistant. He later managed Liem Tuai's City Council campaign.
Since 1993, Sondheim has been the co-owner of Rosebud Restaurant, a great fit for a self-described people person. He thinks that running a small business gives him a valuable perspective regarding the city's economic issues. As well, Sondheim has long been involved in the LGBT community. In addition to his tenure with the previous Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce he now serves on the board of the Hill's newly re-established chamber. He knows his is not a household name in Seattle. But Sondheim thinks his background leaves him well suited to serving on the City Council.
"I am very familiar with how the city works," he works. "I'm not sure all council candidates running this year can say that."
Once he made the decision to run - and he waited to the June 8 filing deadline to decide - the next choice was deciding which seat among the five up for election to pursue. It came down to a process of elimination. The open seat vacated by Peter Steinbrueck was too crowded, Sondheim reasoned. He figured incumbent David Della would prove too strong a candidate. Clark, too, should be a strong candidate, and additionally Sondheim didn't want to be seen as dividing the LGBT community. Lastly, incumbent Tom Rasmussen is a friend.
That left Position 1, the seat currently held by first termer Jean Godden. It was a practical choice, but Godden was the person he most wanted to face.
"I think she's a nice lady but has been the weakest of the councilmembers. She really hasn't done much to distinguish herself. Her measures have been on the coattails of the others. I don't see where she's stepped up and taken much of an initiative. There's been no vision, and we need innovative ideas," he said, declaring that should he win he will be a forward-leaning councilmember.
While acknowledging that the odds clearly favor incumbents he doesn't feel running is a quixotic quest. With Godden a sure bet to make it through the primary, his race is effectively against fellow position 1 hopefuls Joe Szwaja and Lauren Briel. He respects Szwaja, the Green Party candidate, and thought challenger Lauren Briel was well spoken during their recent KUOW interview. But he's confident his background will take him past the primary. If he wasn't, he said, why would he run?
"Frankly, I have a combination of skills and experience that the others lack, including Jean Godden," he said. "It's one of the reasons friends have been encouraging me to get in the race."
As for issues Sondheim would address if elected, crime is first on his list. He states that he would add 225 new police officers to the force.
"Everyone is for more officers. Crime is the major issue for our city right now. More police on the beats, more street cops, makes our city safer. It's something we have to do and not just talk about. Citizens have repeatedly said that they want this," he said.
Sondheim does not approve of the City Council's proposed nightclub ordinance and would work to make sure the city's social life remains vibrant.
"The city already has laws to close down nightclubs when necessary," he said. "This is overkill. Nightclubs are getting squeezed out because the property has become so valuable. But clubs and residents can co-exist. They do in other, larger cities and they certainly can here."
Additionally, he would push for stronger graffiti enforcement, emphasize affordable housing
Sondheim entered the race late, and the Aug. 21 primary is but six weeks away. He plans what he calls a real grassroots campaign. While many candidates have already raised in excess of $100,000, Sondheim realizes he isn't in a position to generate that kind of money. His best bet, and one he says is a good fit with his personality, is to hit the pavement and meet as many people as possible. It will be a challenge, particularly with running his restaurant, but he's undaunted and is looking forward to getting on the street.
"I'm a social person and I'm definitely enjoying getting out and meeting people," he said. "And I'm learning that the issues we face on the Hill really aren't any different from other neighborhoods. People are concerned about the same things. But efforts will be focused on getting out into the neighborhoods. I think some council candidates have neglected this."
There have been a few small fundraising events at friend's homes and there will be more, but Sondheim said he doesn't expect to raise more than $10,000. Money will be spent on mailings but, interestingly, not yard signs. Sondheim thinks campaign signs are a form of pollution and wants no part of them.
In answer to a question he often gets, Sondheim is a distant cousin of a certain Broadway composer of some renown. People have come into Rosebud and mentioned that they have met Steven Sondheim. Robert Sondheim politely acknowledges the family connection, but has to tell them that he's never actually met his famous relative. He manages to keep a sense of humor about the family connection:
"Maybe if I'm elected, someone will come up to Steven Sondheim in New York and ask if he's related to the Robert Sondheim on the Seattle City Council."
More information about Robert Sondheim is at www.robertsondheimf orcitycouncil.com/
Doug Schwartz is the editor of the Capitol Hill Times. He can be reached at editor@capitolhilltimes.com or 461-1308.
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