Women Rule In Redmond Politics

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

Eastside Mayoral Candidate Forum - Angela Birney

The Eastside Mayoral Forum was held in the North Bellevue Community Center on July 18th.  The audience was mostly Indian, North Asian, Chinese, and Japanese.  This is candidate Angela Birney's closing  statement. (1 minute)

-- Bob Yoder

Eastside Mayoral Candidate Forum - Steve Fields

The Eastside Mayoral Forum was held in the North Bellevue Community Center on July 18th.  The audience was mostly Indian, North Asian, Chinese, and Japanese.  This is Steve Fields' closing statement. (1.5 minutes)

-- Bob Yoder

Primary Candidate's Explanatory Statements, On August 6th Ballot

City of Redmond, Mayor

• Angela Birney
• Andrew Koeppen
• Steve Fields

City of Redmond, Council Position 7

• Shad Ansari
• David Carson
• Carlos Jimenez
• Osama Hamdan

Lake Washington School District 414, Director District 5

• Siri Bliesner
• John Towers
• Susan Wilkins

Redmond Reporter: What Does Redmond Mean to you?

"What does Redmond mean to you?" Redmond Reporter, excerpts, 7/11

Angela Birney

Birney:  Redmond is home to an innovative spirit, diverse communities, and shared values that bring us together. I’m proud to have called Redmond my home for over 20 years. From volunteering at Norman Rockwell to watching my daughters play soccer at every field in the area — I love this city. With your support, I’ll lead Redmond into our next chapter as a collaborative city where people, communities, neighborhoods and businesses work together to create a place where all are welcome, and all thrive. As mayor, I will work every day to create a connected Redmond.

Steve Fields

Fields: Since first arriving in Redmond in 1978, I have lived life to its fullest potential and helped bring those same opportunities to Redmond. It is the hometown where I enjoyed coaching basketball, baseball and soccer. It is the place surrounded by natural beauty that inspires an innovative and creative community to do more and believe in new possibilities. But mostly Redmond to me is about living near people who care and who work really hard together to make sure we’re doing the right things for our community.


Koeppen: Redmond is at a crossroads, facing a multitude of issues from traffic congestion, increasing crime, small businesses leaving, and affordable housing. I’ll use my leadership skills to build a community where people can civilly discuss issues, problems and solutions.

-- Redmond Reporter Excerpts, July 11

Fields Supports The LBGTQ Community

Hi everyone! I’m Sarah and the daughter of Steve Fields. To all the fathers in Redmond, Happy Father’s Day.

My dad is an amazing person and an even more amazing father. I have no doubt he is the best choice for Mayor of Redmond and will work incredibly hard on behalf of Redmond’s citizen and the community I grew up a part of and that he has lived in most of my life.

I know this is an important time in the campaign and how important it is to him to make time to meet you and hear your concerns and hopes for the future of Redmond but my dad and I planned a trip a year ago to Barcelona to attend https://lovefanfest.com/en/, an event that represents something very important to me. Traveling together and having him with me at this event means the world to me.

Between all the activities we have planned, including cleaning up plastic from local beaches, I know he will still be working hard as a Redmond council member and as a candidate for Mayor of Redmond even while he’s traveling. It’s what he does. He is a 24/7 guy and puts his whole heart in to what he believes in. I believe in him and want you to believe in him too. I’m so grateful for the time I will get to spend with him in Spain and to be able to share this experience with him.

Paige Norman, Redmond Community Organizer

Credit/ Bob Yoder

Thank you Paige for organizing and moderating this mayoral candidate forum! It's one thing to see a campaign sign; but your forum sheds light and truth on the candidates behind all those signs. The forum really helped people; I could see and feel this. Thanks Paige. I look forward to your Council and LWSD school board forums!

-- Bob Yoder

Education Hill Neighborhood Association Forum

INTRODUCTIONS:  2:50 m

OPENING STATEMENTS:  4:40 m Koeppen;  **8:05 m Birney;  10:37 m Fields

QUESTIONS: (**denotes the response I liked the most)
     # 1:  Climate Change 16:16 m: Birney 17:00;  Koeppen 22:12;  **Fields 22:16
     # 2:  Climate Change, King County Collaboration:  Koeppen 27:49; Fields 29.34; **Birney 31:05
     # 3:  Water/Aquifer: Fields 33:14; Koeppen 35:41;  **Birney 37:47
     # 4:  Senior Housing/Vision:  **Koeppen 40:33; Birney 44:17; Fields 46:48
     # 5:  Parks & Recreation, 51:25 m:  Birney 52:13; Koeppen 54:36; **Fields 56:00
     # 6:  Leadership/Vision, Birney 59:12; Koeppen 1:02:44; **Fields 1:05:44
     # 7:  Ban on Facial Recognition, 1:18:50 m  **Birney, Fields, *Koeppen
     # 8:  Saturday Market Relocation, 1.24.00 m  Koeppen, Fields, Birney

STATEMENT:
Koeppen 1:30:45 m Excessive use of electricity at City Hall
**Birney 1:31:28 m Affordable Housing
Fields 1:32:34 m Infrastructure

CLOSING STATEMENTS
1:34:28  Birney, **Fields, Koeppen

Forum Produced And Directed By Paige Norman
Video by Paige Norman , 6/13/19
Opinion by Yoder, 6/17/19

This page is under construction

Mental Health Walk A Smashing Success - Candidates Steve Fields and Hank Myers Join In

The NAMI 5K Mental Health Walk to "bust stigma" was a smashing success!  Great people, great cause!  We were supporting EvergreenHealth's plans to open an outpatient mental health care clinic. Three councilmembers Hank Myers, Steve Fields, Tanika Padeya, and my wife are holding the banner. 

- Bob Yoder

"Seattle Times" article on mayoral candidates

Council President Angela Birney

  "People who have been here a long time feel left out. 

 I want to make sure their voices are heard."  - Birney

Councilmember Steve Fields

  "Our residents are the best city planners.  

We need to listen to them." - Fields

Small businessman Andrew Koeppen

 "Redmond has shown disrespect for Microsoft."  Mr. Koeppen likened it to "the 'rich uncle in a family' that the city should be thankful for." - Koeppen

-- Excerpts from The Seattle Times article  "Meet the woman and men who want to be Redmond's next mayor."  By Paige Cornwell, 5/28

Mayoral candidate Angela Birney hosts gathering at PostDoc Brewery

Angela Birney and her whole Redmond family including doggie "Buttons" brought good cheer.

A diversity of community leaders and Birney endorsers were in attendance.  School Board candidate Siri Bliesner and Mr. Markel, a developer land-use attorney were present.  The planning and parks commissioners were a many.  Church leaders of the Open Kitchen too.  Rob Leavitt, past President of the Redmond Lacroose Club partook. J.D. Klein, owner of Minuteman Press gave inspirational closing remarks. Who did I miss?!

"What a wonderful evening" said Angela Birney. "Thank you all for joining me at PostDoc last night to celebrate filing. I truly enjoyed meeting you and talking about the future of Redmond together. I’m humbled by your support, especially as we move towards the August primary. Keep an eye out for more of these events in the future- I’d love to see you there!"

Reported By Bob Yoder

Redmond crime rate is low

Redmond Police Chief Kristi Wilson/ Internet

Annual crime data is reported to Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.  They determine crime rate per thousand by local jurisdictions and statewide as a comparison.  Police Chief Wilson says: "Analysis Data continues to demonstrate the crime rate within the City of Redmond is incredibly low and has remained consistent over the past several years."

Property crime continues to make up the significant majority of reported crime  (3022 in 2017.) "Smash and Dash" and package thieves are the most prevalent property crimes. Violent crime also continues to remain at a very low rate at 1.72/K.  Statewide violent crime is 3.5/K.

Kristi Wilson, Police Chief
May 21 Council Committee meeting

Note:  In the first Council "Neighborhood Conversations" meeting Mayoral Candidate Andrew Koeppen complained that dangerous crime rates were much higher in Redmond. The Mayor and Councilmember Carson clarified stating the State went to a new reporting system.

-- Bob Yoder

Koeppen asks Council for new pool

Mr. Koeppen was a little late here.  Last December, before Mr. Koeppen's speech, the City Council adopted the 2019-2020 budget to include the pool remodel.  

Pool system repairs and improvements will occur in two phases over two years.  Phase 1 is under contract to complete approximately $5.4M in system repair and replacement that will improve the overall pool facility efficiency and operation. This work will result in lower utility use and costs along with improved building system performance and occupant experience. The budget for Phase 2 is $6M.   
-- Bob Yoder

Council President Angela Birney is running for Mayor

Council President Angela Birney began serving her first term on Council in 2016.  Prior to Council she chaired the Parks and Trails Committee.  Among many other activities, she represents the City of Redmond on the Cascade Water Alliance, the King County Board of Health, and King County Regional Policy Committee and Redmond's Disability board.  She also serves as an alternate representative on the Sound Cities Association Public Issues Committee and the Eastside Transportation Partnership. Find her candidate website and Facebook page here.

Source:  redmond.gov

Small business owner Andrew Koeppen is running for Mayor

Mr. Koeppen has lived in Redmond 19 years and has been a U.S. citizen for one year.  Andrew was the first to announce he's running for Mayor of Redmond.  He's attentive to community safety, publishing a popular Facebook disaster preparedness site called "Eastside Ready."  He organizes community "disaster preparedness" events held at the library.  He's actively involved with police and fire safety.  He's especially upset by the city wasting electricity by leaving the lights on at City Hall.  Here is his website and facebook page

-- Bob Yoder

UPDATED OPINION: The next Mayor we elect needs to plan for "us," not just "them."

All these "Redmond Center" small businesses will be demolished

Why, oh why were we fated to live in Redmond during this messy urbanization process? There seems no end to the detours, disruptive demolition and ceaseless  construction. I hear (no transparency) even more Giants are cued up. The City needs to take pause to the planned "twin 9-story towers" by the old post office, and other monoliths -- not just for infrastructure catch-up but for presence of mind. When the City's Director of Planning finishes "our" 10-year plan many will be dead; or have left, leaving "technology" to enjoy the fruits of our endurance. The Mayor we elect in November will need a serious plan for "us" -- not just "them." (city staff and developers.) Yes,I pity the small businesses expected to move into the first floor of these expensive Goliath's. Our downtown core is evolving into a small business wasteland.  

Construction of this roughly 600-unit, multi-family apartment project is set to start in the summer 2020. Several other massive projects are planned for the downtown in the near future.  Which mayoral candidate do you want to manage the city during this turbulent time?

-- Bob Yoder, opinion
   

Note: A friend stated: "the 6-story ground-level places intended for small businesses to move into are nearly quadruple the current rental / lease prices. Some of the businesses say it would  be $9K/month + just to lease a space.  That doesn't include renovating the space to fit their business, or any of the other moving expenses."