Following are public policy issues and the year in which I pursued them. They remain the same today. (be sure to read the Newsletters 2 to 8 as well)
Accountability. In 1983, I had advocated extending the power of the City's ombudsman to also investigate the Mayor and City Council. They budgeted the office out of existence. And, in 1993, my pledge in the Voters Pamphlet stated: "I shall provide …. fiscal and performance audits …(and) hire an ombudsman….."
Political Integrity. In 1989, the election issue of the North Seattle Press of August 9 included an article which established my commitment to political integrity. I had pledged to place a referendum before the Council to require the resignation of any of the City's elected officials running for another elective office. A second would have required the election of City Council members by district, a concept which I had previously presented to the people as a charter amendment in 1987. It failed to collect enough signatures.
Fiscal Discipline. From 1981 on, I have been involved in writing "con" statements on fiscal issues for the Voters Pamphlet, exposing arguments the City had used to deceive voters. In 1997, I campaigned on the issue that our elected officials had incurred a $500 million City debt without voter approval.
City Light. In 1981, while working for City Light and running for office, I had proposed a moratorium on the issuing of permits to construct high-rise buildings, until a plan could be devised that would tie the increasing load to the availability of electrical power. In 1997, my response to a request by the Seattle Times editorial board to list public policies, I answered: "I would prepare a plan to save City Light for its investors -- the people of Seattle -- in face of the impending deregulation of the electrical utility industry."
Public Safety. In 1989, I agreed with a consultant's report that an additional 167 new police officers and civilian workers be hired, and argued the City should have accepted the recommendation. The City did not. Today, I would reassign present priorities to assure total police and fire protection for all Seattle.
Transportation. In 1999, I had promised to work on solving the "Mercer Mess" which is still a mess and, in general, to start working on an estimated $500 million of backlogged work on the City's infrastructure. It would have been in conjunction with state and federal transportation projects through and around Seattle.
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