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2007 is a BIG YEAR for our city with the elections just around the corner. Four council positions are up for grabs (Cole, Marchione, Resha, Robinson), all with terms expiring 12/31/07. Last year Mayor Rosemarie Ives announced she would not to run again. With the thin line-up of mayoral candidates filing many hope the winds will change for Rosemarie. They Mayor's salary has been raised to over $125,000, plus travel perks.
One cannot dispute THE GAMES ARE ON! Political undercurrents of the pending elections will pitch and roll the governing process for the rest of the year. Accurate assessment of the activities of mayor, council, commissions and yes, staff, necessitates factoring in election politics.
A significant segment of our city population works for Microsoft, other high-technology companies or are Microsoft retirees. If YOU or a Microsoft contact is exploring the idea of running for an office, please contact:
The King County Board of Elections, 500 4th Ave. Rm 533 Seattle, WA. 98104 206-296-8683,
elections@metrokc.gov ;
http://www.metroke.gov/elections/High-technology workers have never been represented on council; and to the outside world, Redmond is Microsoft! 12000 new MS workers will work here soon! Citizens, please consider service to your city. Encourage your friends. ["Perks": You'll be on TV every week, recieve admiration & recognition, be entrusted with power, shape the city, and receive the princely salary of $800/month! J ]
UPDATE: Microsoft employee and Redmond native, Brian Seitz is running for Council vs. Mr Carson. I wish Brian well. EMAIL:
brianseitz@hotmail.comWith all that's up for grabs this year we can expect quite a commotion, some good head fakes and not-so-good moves from our “The Starting Line-Up” , The Bench, and the Coach's Draft.
“THE STARTING LINE-UP” FOR COUNCIL:
Richard Cole – filed to run for council; as of 4/15 unopposed POSITION #5, TERM EXPIRES 12/31/07 Member, Public Administration and Finance Committee Member, Public Safety Committee Richard Cole, now in his fifth term on the Council, was first elected to a term beginning in 1988. Originally from Logan, Utah, Richard has resided in Redmond's North Redmond and Education Hill neighborhood for over 24 years.
VS.
Michella -----------
John Marchione – filed to run for mayor ; Brian Conlin is running for Resha's seat; Hank Myers is running unchallenged for Marchione's seat.
Position #1 POSITION #1, TERM EXPIRES 12/31/07 Marchione is Chair, Public Administration and Finance Committee Member, Planning and Public Works Committee
WEBSITE:
http://www.johnmarchione.com/ NEW VIDEO !
John is Director of Finance and Human Resources at Meydenbauer Center. He has experience in local government finance and management. He holds a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Washington and a BA from Seattle University. John grew up in Redmond and lives on Education Hill with his wife and two children. This is his first term on the City Council.
John Resha * 5/16/07 - announced he will NOT be running for re-election. POSITION #3, TERM EXPIRES 12/31/07 Chair, Planning and Public Works Committee Member, Parks and Human Services Committee John has served on the Redmond City Council since January 2004. Originally from Southern California, he has lived in Redmond since 1998 and currently resides in the Education Hill neighborhood. John works for UrbanTrans Consulting.
"Hank" Margeson announced in today's 5/12 Reporter he would be running for John Resha's council seat. Mr. Resha has yet to make an announcement if he would run. Hank has put in many years of service as a Park Board Member and is currently Vice-Chair. Recently, he took a leadership role on the levy proposal to Council (tag "parks-commission" for the story). Hank is a 14 year resident of Redmond and lives on Education Hill where he was an active Education Hill CAC member. He wants to build a spirit of teamwork with the council and mayor and values being in close touch with his neighbors. Hank has been active in youth sports as a coach and umpire.
Jim Robinson * 2/21 announcement he is running for Mayor - in the "Redmond Reporter" POSITION #7, TERM EXPIRES 12/31/07 Chair, Parks and Human Services Committee Member, Public Administration and Finance Committee.
http://robinsonformayor.com/ NEW VIDEO !!
Jim has been a member of the Redmond City Council since January, 1992. He has lived in Redmond since 1983 and resides in the Grass Lawn neighborhood west of Marymoor Park. Jim was born and raised in Everett and works for the Boeing Company as a financial analyst. He has a BA Political Science from Willamette University, a Master of International Management from American Graduate of International Management, and a MBA from Seattle University.
Dave Carson running for Robinson's council seat
INTERNET PAGE:
http://youngrepublicans.meetup.com/86/members/435937/vs.
Brian Seitz is running for Robinson's council seat EMAIL:
brianseitz@hotmail.comWEBSITE:
http://www.electbrianseitz.com/ NEW VIDEO !!
Holly Plackett - filed for Mayor (past Redmond Council member (4 years), Planning Commissioner (6 years); supports our present Strong Mayor form of government.
http://www.hollyplackett.com/ VIDEO!
"PLAYERS ON THE BENCH” and well-prepared to enter the Game:
Suzanne Querry, (Planning Commissioner for years; moderate, Starbuck's executive)
Lori Snodgrass (Parks Board Chair, parks commissioner- 9 years- resigned 6/07)
Other than Ms. Holly Plackett, none of the above 'benched' players have told me they are ready to play at this stage of the game, if at all. To say the least, the roster is thin.
Possible recruits for "THE COACH'S DRAFT" and being bantered around:
Kimberly Allen, Council member – for mayor
a civic-minded MSN "butterfly" or 2
Who did I miss? Hopefully, and for the good health of our fair city of Redmond, qualified candidates will step forward!!
If you or someone you know is thinking of running or an office or have questions about how to run, please contact : The King County Board of Elections, 500 4th Ave. Rm 533 Seattle, WA. 98104 206-296-8683,
elections@metrokc.gov ; If I can help you, please email me at
redmondblog@gmail.comI will be updating this site on a regular basis. Of final note, some encouragement from Council member Jim Robinson: " ...in 2007 there will be four council positions open and the mayor’s position open. I would encourage one and all to run for council or mayor." -Jim Robinson,
Council Member, 12/30/06
Election commentary by Korby Parnell, Redmond Planning Commissioner
http://blogs.msdn.com/korbyp/archive/2007/03/07/passing-the-community-torch-in-search-of-a-new-chief-executive-in-redmond.aspx#commentsHolly Plackett, mayoral candidate, 2/22/07. ..."on filing, we (candidates) don't have to indicate which council seat is being selected --- the same is true for the Mayor's seat -- until the first week of June we can switch and run for a council seat if we chose. ...We can't file for two offices at the same time however -- if we chose to run for Mayor the first week in June, then we are committed to that race."
The Redmond Neighborhood Blog is not endorsing mayoral or council candidates at this time. 4/27/07
