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Campaign Fizz: Light Rail May Condemn Candidate's Home
Your one-stop shop for today's local campaign news, gossip, and analysis.
• Aaron Laing, a candidate for Bellevue City Council who opposes Sound Transit's preferred light rail route, could have his house condemned if Sound Transit builds rail along its preferred alignment.
Laing, a candidate for the Bellevue council seat being vacated by light-rail proponent Grant Degginger (Degginger decided not to run earlier this year, saying he was disappointed at a loss of civility on the council), is being supported by Bellevue megadeveloper and light rail opponent Kemper Freeman.
As it turns out, Laing's house happens to be among those that would be potentially "impacted" by Sound Transit's proposed light rail route through Bellevue---the route that Freeman-backed members of the Bellevue council like Kevin Wallace have opposed. Laing's house is among the "potential property acquisitions"
Sound Transit lists as a part of its preferred option for the South Bellevue portion of the route, known as B1; Wallace and a majority of the council supported a more expensive option known as B7, which would have avoided homes and businesses, crossed a critical wetland, and required the construction of a new park-and-ride.
• City council challenger Bobby Forch, who's running against incumbent Jean Godden, scored some more endorsements today: The Seattle Building and Construction Trades Council, the Cascade Bicycle Club, and---as the Stranger reported---state Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-37).
• Meanwhile, the Central Puget Sound Carpenters' Union has endorsed a "no" vote on the the $60 car-tab fee on the ballot in November. The head of the union, John Littel, was the only member of the 13-member Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee who voted against the recommendations the group made to the mayor and city council for the composition of the fee, which will pay for road maintenance, bike and pedestrian projects, and transit improvements.
• The Tacoma News Tribune reports that US Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA, 6) is opposed to a Republican redistricting proposal that would cut Tacoma out of his district, moving that city, along with Gig Harbor, into Rep. Adam Smith's 9th District. Under the plan, proposed by state redistricting commissioner Tom Huff, Dicks' district would swallow up Olympia, Lacey, and Bainbridge Island.
• Aaron Laing, a candidate for Bellevue City Council who opposes Sound Transit's preferred light rail route, could have his house condemned if Sound Transit builds rail along its preferred alignment.
Laing, a candidate for the Bellevue council seat being vacated by light-rail proponent Grant Degginger (Degginger decided not to run earlier this year, saying he was disappointed at a loss of civility on the council), is being supported by Bellevue megadeveloper and light rail opponent Kemper Freeman.
As it turns out, Laing's house happens to be among those that would be potentially "impacted" by Sound Transit's proposed light rail route through Bellevue---the route that Freeman-backed members of the Bellevue council like Kevin Wallace have opposed. Laing's house is among the "potential property acquisitions"
Sound Transit lists as a part of its preferred option for the South Bellevue portion of the route, known as B1; Wallace and a majority of the council supported a more expensive option known as B7, which would have avoided homes and businesses, crossed a critical wetland, and required the construction of a new park-and-ride.
• City council challenger Bobby Forch, who's running against incumbent Jean Godden, scored some more endorsements today: The Seattle Building and Construction Trades Council, the Cascade Bicycle Club, and---as the Stranger reported---state Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-37).
• Meanwhile, the Central Puget Sound Carpenters' Union has endorsed a "no" vote on the the $60 car-tab fee on the ballot in November. The head of the union, John Littel, was the only member of the 13-member Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee who voted against the recommendations the group made to the mayor and city council for the composition of the fee, which will pay for road maintenance, bike and pedestrian projects, and transit improvements.
• The Tacoma News Tribune reports that US Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA, 6) is opposed to a Republican redistricting proposal that would cut Tacoma out of his district, moving that city, along with Gig Harbor, into Rep. Adam Smith's 9th District. Under the plan, proposed by state redistricting commissioner Tom Huff, Dicks' district would swallow up Olympia, Lacey, and Bainbridge Island.
Dicks noted he has represented Tacoma since his first election to Congress in 1976 and said there's an important tie between Tacoma and Bremerton in that both areas are home to military bases. Dicks is the top Democrat on the defense budget subcommittee.
"Tom Huff is a very nice person," Dicks said of the Gig Harbor Republican. "I want to continue to represent him."
