News
PubliCola Candidate Ratings: King County Council Member Jane Hague
Sticking with our commitment to be a more objective and balanced source of news (yep, this “liberal” site is the site that broke the story that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee got busted by the state for trying to transfer unlimited “surplus funds” from his congressional campaign to his campaign for governor), we’re doing things differently this year than we have in the past.
Inspired by the even-keeled Seattle/King County Municipal League’s approach to candidates (rather than endorsing, the Muni League rates based on skill, experience, and policy acumen as opposed to ideology), we’ve been talking to candidates and interviewing folks on both sides of the ballot measures and coming up with our own ratings. (Here's our take on I-1125, the tolling initiative, our take on I-1183 , the liquor privatization measure, and I-1163, the health care worker training initiative.)
We’re grading the candidates on: Resume; Knowledge of the Issues; and Their To-Do List & Ability to Get it Done. We’ll also be issuing Bonus Points and Demerits.
Our scale: Exceptional; Above Average; Acceptable; So-so; Unimpressive; Unacceptable.
First up: King County Council District 6.
Jane Hague, incumbent
Resumé: Acceptable
Hague has been on the King County Council since 1993, but it took her first real challenger in all those years, Mercer Island Democrat Richard Mitchell, to light a fire under her and get her to take some bold---and sometimes controversial---positions. Our inclination to take a somewhat dim view of Hague's resume is colored by the fact that she actually did inflate her resumé---claiming, falsely, to have a college degree---and by her mishandling of her drunk-driving arrest in 2007 (she acted indignant, rude, and belligerent to sheriff's deputies when they pulled her over, eventually apologizing for her poor behavior and judgment.)[pullquote]Hague has shown an unusual willingness to take thoughtful, moderate stands on a council whose Republican wing is dominated by conservative ideologues.[/pullquote]
That said, Hague has shown an unusual willingness to take thoughtful, moderate stands on a council whose Republican wing is dominated by conservative ideologues. She worked with Democrats on the council to halt cost-of-living wage increases that would have forced mass layoffs at the county; voted with Democrats on a compromise to prohibit a small number of (but not all) criminals with violent records from being released into community corrections programs; opposed efforts by Republican council colleague Reagan Dunn to slash public health, including domestic violence prevention, to pay for sheriff's deputies; and, most recently and notably, voted along with the council majority to pass a $20 vehicle license fee without going to a public vote, saving Metro service for two years.
Knowledge of the issues: Acceptable
Hague isn't really an ideas person; in fact, we're hard pressed to come up with a single major initiative she's pushed on her own. Clearly, Hague thinks hard before she votes (a tendency her opponent has characterized as flip-flopping), making her a frequent swing vote on contentious issues. While 18 years on the council is certainly bound to make anyone familiar with most issues facing the county (transportation, land use, growing labor costs, and public health vs. public safety are all perennials), Hague hasn't shown a real passion for any issue in particular.
To-Do List and Ability to Get it Done: Acceptable
Hague cites funding public safety, preserving the social safety net, and solving the county's structural budget gap as her top priorities for a sixth term. Those are big problems that require big solutions. As the council's middle-of-the-roader, we doubt Hague will be a leader on any of those issues, but we're also convinced that if she's reelected, she'll bring the same balanced, moderate approach to the council that she has for the past 13 years.
Bonus points
Hague's decision to switch her vote to save Metro has earned her no end of criticism from her opponent for "flip-flopping" and "lack of leadership." We think it was a brave, difficult decision.
Demerits
Hague's DUI, resume padding, and confusing explanation for her recent bike accident (an accident that prompted her to cancel several joint campaign appearances even as she showed up at ribbon-cuttings and photo ops) make us question her stability and character.
Notable contributions: King County Police Officers Guild, Kemper Holdings.
Newspaper endorsement to check out: The Bellevue Reporter.
Inspired by the even-keeled Seattle/King County Municipal League’s approach to candidates (rather than endorsing, the Muni League rates based on skill, experience, and policy acumen as opposed to ideology), we’ve been talking to candidates and interviewing folks on both sides of the ballot measures and coming up with our own ratings. (Here's our take on I-1125, the tolling initiative, our take on I-1183 , the liquor privatization measure, and I-1163, the health care worker training initiative.)
We’re grading the candidates on: Resume; Knowledge of the Issues; and Their To-Do List & Ability to Get it Done. We’ll also be issuing Bonus Points and Demerits.
Our scale: Exceptional; Above Average; Acceptable; So-so; Unimpressive; Unacceptable.
First up: King County Council District 6.
Jane Hague, incumbent
Resumé: Acceptable
Hague has been on the King County Council since 1993, but it took her first real challenger in all those years, Mercer Island Democrat Richard Mitchell, to light a fire under her and get her to take some bold---and sometimes controversial---positions. Our inclination to take a somewhat dim view of Hague's resume is colored by the fact that she actually did inflate her resumé---claiming, falsely, to have a college degree---and by her mishandling of her drunk-driving arrest in 2007 (she acted indignant, rude, and belligerent to sheriff's deputies when they pulled her over, eventually apologizing for her poor behavior and judgment.)[pullquote]Hague has shown an unusual willingness to take thoughtful, moderate stands on a council whose Republican wing is dominated by conservative ideologues.[/pullquote]
That said, Hague has shown an unusual willingness to take thoughtful, moderate stands on a council whose Republican wing is dominated by conservative ideologues. She worked with Democrats on the council to halt cost-of-living wage increases that would have forced mass layoffs at the county; voted with Democrats on a compromise to prohibit a small number of (but not all) criminals with violent records from being released into community corrections programs; opposed efforts by Republican council colleague Reagan Dunn to slash public health, including domestic violence prevention, to pay for sheriff's deputies; and, most recently and notably, voted along with the council majority to pass a $20 vehicle license fee without going to a public vote, saving Metro service for two years.
Knowledge of the issues: Acceptable
Hague isn't really an ideas person; in fact, we're hard pressed to come up with a single major initiative she's pushed on her own. Clearly, Hague thinks hard before she votes (a tendency her opponent has characterized as flip-flopping), making her a frequent swing vote on contentious issues. While 18 years on the council is certainly bound to make anyone familiar with most issues facing the county (transportation, land use, growing labor costs, and public health vs. public safety are all perennials), Hague hasn't shown a real passion for any issue in particular.
To-Do List and Ability to Get it Done: Acceptable
Hague cites funding public safety, preserving the social safety net, and solving the county's structural budget gap as her top priorities for a sixth term. Those are big problems that require big solutions. As the council's middle-of-the-roader, we doubt Hague will be a leader on any of those issues, but we're also convinced that if she's reelected, she'll bring the same balanced, moderate approach to the council that she has for the past 13 years.
Bonus points
Hague's decision to switch her vote to save Metro has earned her no end of criticism from her opponent for "flip-flopping" and "lack of leadership." We think it was a brave, difficult decision.
Demerits
Hague's DUI, resume padding, and confusing explanation for her recent bike accident (an accident that prompted her to cancel several joint campaign appearances even as she showed up at ribbon-cuttings and photo ops) make us question her stability and character.
Notable contributions: King County Police Officers Guild, Kemper Holdings.
Newspaper endorsement to check out: The Bellevue Reporter.
