Redmond Neighborhood Blog: 2019 Council

Showing posts with label 2019 Council. Show all posts

Monday, December 30, 2019

City Of Redmond Swearing In Ceremony

l-r Angela Birney, David Carson, Varisha Kahn, Jessica Forsythe, Vanessa Kritzer

In a ceremony during Redmond City Council's December 17th meeting, newly elected Redmond residents Angela Birney (Mayor), Varisha Khan (Council Position No. 1), Jessica Forsythe (Council Position No. 3), Vanessa Kritzer (Council Position No. 5), and David Carson (Council Position No. 7) were officially sworn in. Their terms are effective January 2020 through December 2023.

Thirteen different council/mayoral candidate signs were staked. Amazingly, most were removed within a day following the election. (click to enlarge)

Mayor-elect Birney was elected to City Council in 2015 and served as Council President from 2018 to 2019. She currently represents Redmond on several regional boards and committees and previously served on the Parks and Trails Commission. Angela grew up in Eastern Washington and moved to Redmond in 1998. Formerly a middle school science teacher, she earned a Master of Education from Heritage University and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology Education from Eastern Washington University. She lives on Education Hill with her husband and daughters.

Friday, December 6, 2019

Women Rule In Redmond Politics

Image may contain: 1 person, standing and outdoor

Angela Birney / Facebook / November, 2019

Well, the votes are certified with Angela Birney winning the coveted mayoral position. Four women won Council positions this election, add in two sitting women councilmembers (Tanika Padhye and Jeralee Anderson); in total, six women officials will represent the citizens of Redmond. Steve Fields and David Carson remain.

Angela Birney vs. Steve Fields. Birney won the mayoral position with 60.04% of the votes.

Vanessa Kritzer defeated Eugene Zakhareyev for the open seat with 70.98% of the votes.

Jessica Forsythe challenged Dayle "Hank" Margeson for Position 3 and won with 54.67% of votes.

*Varisha Khan challenged Hank Myers for Position 1 and won with 50.15% of the votes.

Ms. Kahn secured 6666 votes vs. Mr. Myers' 6600 after a machine recount. Mr. Myers lost by 66 votes...the closest Redmond race in memory. The final count was officially certified by King County Elections on December 6th. 27 write-ins. The Seattle Times wrote an excellent article on Varisha, December 6th. I encourage you to read it!

Councilmember Tanika Padhye's Seat #4 will expire on 12/31/21. Councilmember Jeralee Anderson's Seat #6 will expire then as well.

Reported by Bob Yoder
12/6/2019

2019 Candidate Contributions

Hank Myers

"Campaign Funds For Community," Hank Myers Redmond Reporter, 11/14/2019

"Thanks to all the Redmond voters that made this election energetic and the best reflection of public values in 12 years. I sent the following message to all 10 candidates for city offices and hope they will join me.

As we close down our campaign accounts, perhaps you have some money left over. There are several things you can do with the money. I am hoping you will join me by donating any money left to nonprofit operations that benefit Redmond and its residents.

My first give is to the Green Redmond program. One-gallon Douglas fir and Sitka spruce trees cost the city $3.50 each. I am hoping to donate $350 to plant 100 trees. If all 10 candidates do that, we can reforest a couple of acres at least.

My second choice is The Sophia Way women’s shelter. They have had a rocky time recently with organization and management. Additional money should help stabilize them and help them hire a permanent executive director.

Third on my list is the Landing, the young adult shelter operated by Friends of Youth at the Together Center in Redmond.

If I have any money left over, it will go to Union Gospel Mission, which is ramping up its Eastside efforts. You may know Jason Dick, a Redmond resident who is their development director. By next Tuesday, I should know how much I have left, and will again encourage candidates to put any leftover funds into community good."

Hank Myers

Redmond city council candidate

Candidate Contributions:

Hank B. Myers $19,575.00 Varisha M. Khan $38,175.98

David M. Carson $9,730.00 Carlos S. Jimenez $4,595.00

Vanessa E. Kritzer $30,804.51 Eugene Zakharaeyev $1,839.95

Jessica G. Forsythe $13,530.98 Dayle "Hank" Margeson $16,460.58

Angela E. Birney $105,636.00 Steven J. Fields $22,524.40

Reported by Bob Yoder

12/6/19

PDC

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Box, "Lego" Buildings Are Crowding Our Streetscape

6-story "Lego" buildings are crowding the streets-scape and blocking views to the green ridges. This is progress which I readily accept. The photo looks south on 166th, at the bottom of Education Hill. The Hilton Garden Inn on the left is under construction. Across the street is the 6-story "The Triangle" rental building.

Developers are building "box-like" buildings to cut their costs. Council candidate Hank Myers recently said buildings need to be cost effective to encourage affordable housing. In the same breath he doesn't like the aesthetics of these Lego buildings.

-- Bob Yoder
Photo; Yoder
5/1/2019