Every other year the Fremont Chamber of Commerce(FCC) hosts a forum for Seattle City Council candidates and voters. With dramatic changes made to the election of councilmembers – now only two will be elected at-large, while the other seven will be chosen by voters in seven districts of Seattle – this year’s Picnic-In-The-Park is a hot ticket for voters who want information, or to put their issues in front of the candidates.
At Gas Works Park, on Wednesday, June 17th at Noon, Fremonsters (and members of North Seattle Industrial Association, Ballard Chamber of Commerce, Green Lake Chamber of Commerce, Phinney Neighborhood Association, Wallingford Chamber of Commerce, and the Aurora Merchants Association) can meet candidates interested in holding one of the two at-large positions (for two years,) as well as candidates who want to represent District #4 (East Fremont,) and District #6 (West Fremont.)
Meet Your (District) Candidates
Before running to the FCC Picnic, Fremocentrist.com will give a little glimpse of the candidates interested in representing us. The five candidates, and their websites, for District #4 are:
- Tony Provine – tonyprovine.com/
- Abel Pacheco – www.abel4seattle.com/
- Michael J. Maddux – www.michaelmaddux.com/
- Rob Johnson – www.rob4seattle.com/
- Councilmember Jean Godden – http://jeangodden.com/
After the primary, in August, look for more personal information on District #4 candidates on Fremocentrist.com
In District #6, Fremocentrist.com offered personal interviews with three of the four candidates. (After many efforts, by June 9th, no contact information for Stan Shaufler could be found.)
Please read profiles of these candidates at:
- Catherine Weatbrook (for Fremocentrist profile click here)
- Councilmember Mike O’Brien (for Fremocentrist profile click here)
- Jon Lisbin (for Fremocentrist profile click here)
A Map Divides Us
The new district system will give neighborhoods in Seattle a specific City Councilmember answerable to their community, and their concerns. This could give Fremont a voice in City Hall, in the form of a person who shares our values. Districts also give voters a chance to elect someone that we feel, as a community, will represent our values in governing the entire city.
The district map was drawn, deliberately, by population. Each district contains roughly 88,000 voters. Aurora Avenue divides Fremont on the map, creating the boundary between districts #6 & #4. This could work against us, as we must share our councilmembers with our neighboring communities (with Ballard to the west and the University of Washington to the east.) This could work for us, too, as it gives Fremont two potentially great councilmembers fighting for our issues and needs.
The district system makes it more important, and more possible, than ever that voters get to know their candidates – and the FCC Picnic-In-The-Park provides a fun, informative opportunity to do so, with pizza.
Give Time For Pizza & Information
The Fremont Chamber forum is free to attend (it is held in the very public Gas Works Park,) but for $20 get lunch (salad & pizza from The Ballroom) with an RSVP (click here or contact director@fremont.com) or $25 without RSVP.
This informative, educational and influential meeting (it is early in the campaign, and candidates usually will still take input as their platform develops) could make a big difference in the election to come. Please consider attending, and making the wisest choice possible this fall when your ballot arrives.
Follow-Up Articles
- Catherine Weatbrook, Community Spokesperson Candidate
- by Kirby Lindsay Laney, 10 June 2015
- Councilmember Mike O’Brien, Experienced Incumbent
- by Kirby Lindsay Laney, 10 June 2015
- Jon Lisbin, Concerned Citizen Candidate
- by Kirby Lindsay Laney, 10 June 2015
©2020 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.