Dave Kaplan
It was the battle of the incumbents in Des Moines with Councilman Dave Kaplan defeating Councilwoman Susan White in a landslide for City Council Position 7.
As of Thursday (Nov. 5th) afternoon’s release of the latest vote totals by King County Elections, Kaplan held a +19-point lead, with 59.42 percent (2,641 votes) to 40.02 percent (1,779 votes) over White.
“I’m proud and honored to have been granted another term to serve as your City Councilmember on the Des Moines City Council,” Kaplan told The Waterland Blog.
White was attending a conference out of town and could not be reached for comment.
In 2001, Kaplan was defeated after serving one term on the council – the same year that White was elected to the first of her two terms as councilwoman. Kaplan was elected again in 2005, but instead of seeking re-election to his Position 5 seat this year he opted to oppose White.
Matt Pina, with a current lead of 55.21 percent (2,448 votes) to 44.54 percent (1,975 votes) lead over political newcomer Anne Farmer, will succeed his father, Ed Pina, in City Council Position 1.
The senior Pina is retiring from the council. Earlier, Matt Pina also followed his father as a Highline School Board member.
“I’m happy where (the vote) is right now,” Pina said before Thursday’s vote total update. “It’s a good spot to be in.”
Carmen Scott
In the closest race this year, incumbent Councilwoman Carmen Scott held a 52.30 percent (2,270 votes) to 47.35 percent (2,055 votes) lead over Melissa Musser, another newcomer to Des Moines politics, for Position 5.
“Obviously, the votes are not all in yet, but I am already feeling very confident about the energy and commitment of our new council members and look forward to our developing a unified plan of cohesive solutions to downtown growth and vigor,” Scott said.
“Beyond that, I know we will all be focused on maintaining parks and recreation programs, finding new sources of revenue, containing expenses, encouraging development of the Port business park land, and redevelopment within Pacific Ridge,” she added.
“Thank you for your vote. I will serve you well.”
The third political newcomer this year, Melissa Musser, was unopposed in her bid for Council Position 5, which previously was held by Kaplan.
Mayor Bob Sheckler said of the election outcome, “I couldn’t be more pleased. When this economy turns around, Des Moines will be in a position to act quickly to further economic development. This is the council that will get us there.”
But the biggest news for many residents was not the results of City Council races but the outcome of Proposition 1, which will establish the Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District that will keep the Mt. Rainier Pool open for public use.
Proposition 1 was sweeping to victory by a 62.86 percent to 37.14 percent margin. Had it not been approved, it is likely that the popular community swimming pool – used by beginning swimmers, swim teams and seniors – would have been closed due to lack of funding.
Elected as pool district commissioners were Gene Achziger, Eric Kasnick, Bernadette Barrett, Marty Martinson and Nancy Kuehnoel. All ran unopposed.
This is the third in our online Des Moines City Council Candidates Forum series, today featuring the two candidates vying for Position #7: challenger incumbent (in Pos. #5) Dave Kaplan vs incumbent Susan White.
As before, we have made no alterations to their text, so the words used are purely theirs, including any typos or other errors.
Each candidate is identified by their names and headshots, then initials:
1. What is the primary objective you hope to accomplish for Des Moines if you are elected to the council? What qualifies you to lead this effort?
DAVE KAPLAN: The primary objective I hope to accomplish for Des Moines when I’m reelected is to continue the steps we’ve been taking to make our budgets sustainable into the future, to focus on bringing in new revenues to the city by expanding our business base through necessary revisions in our City Code and making infrastructure improvements, and for maintaining those services that make Des Moines a great place to live.
I’m qualified to lead this effort because I’ve already been helping to take the lead on these issues as an incumbent Des Moines City Councilmember. We have made a lot of progress, and I don’t want to see that progress halted because of those who oppose change.
SUSAN WHITE: Positive economic development for downtown, finish the historical rehabilitation of our historical Beach Park District, continue to make Des Moines a business friendly environment to attract new business, jobs and affordable housing.
I have eight years of experience on the Des Moines City Council and have produced positive results for the city in spite of difficult economic times. I brought $220,000 through my efforts in Washington DC with our representatives to commence our Historic District in Beach Park. Then was able to raise $2M more as well. The auditorium will be open next year.
2. Des Moines tax revenue is down sharply, as reflected in the budget-cutting process for 2010. What will you do to increase revenue for the city without negatively impacting city residents and businesses?
DK: My intent is to first prioritize how and where we spend on City services. Rather than adjusting the same budget from year to year to year, we need to actually start from scratch, determine what is important, and then whether or not we have the revenues to provide all of the services we do (or if there are better ways to provide them). Then and only then would I consider tax increases. The cuts and revenue increases necessary to submit a balanced budget for 2010 will negatively impact city residents and businesses. There is no way around it. We must close a gap of $2 million between revenues and projected spending levels, out of an approximately $18 million budget. That is the short term. The long-term solution is to grow our business revenues by providing incentives for businesses to locate in Des Moines rather than elsewhere. Only long-term solutions will fix our long-term problems, and our gap between on-going revenues and on-going expenses requires an on-going solution.
SW: Unfortunately (and Des Moines is not alone in this budget crisis) we have had to cut some positions, furlough days and ultimately I think we will be looking at combining services perhaps with other cities.
3. Business activity downtown remains sluggish. What will you do to position the city to encourage increased business activity and development downtown?
DK: To better position ourselves we need to do a number of things. We need to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to support business and make it thrive — water, electricity, sidewalks, traffic flow, parking, and connectivity with the marina. We need to streamline our permitting system by investing in the correct technologies that are user-friendly and self-driven. We need to review our zoning code to determine whether small adjustments in signage, building heights, or other areas may make our downtown more attractive as a place to locate and invest. And we must partner with other resources (Highline Community College, as an example) to help find ways to promote and support businesses that choose to locate in Des Moines. Without a local chamber of commerce or effective advocate for our businesses, downtown will not succeed.
SW: I currently chair South King County Economic Development Initiative (SKCEDI) which is a partnership with our neighboring cities working on a Business Attraction Program and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). We must continue to position ourselves to encourage new business for downtown, Pacific Ridge and keep working on the Des Moines Creek Business Park.
4. Should Des Moines promote itself as a tourist destination? If yes, what should the city do (e.g., encourage development of bed-and-breakfasts, Puget Sound tour boat cruises from the Marina, summer salmon bakes)? If no, why not?
DK: Yes! Des Moines has a beautiful public presence on Puget Sound. Our marina, downtown and Des Moines Beach Park and perfectly located to bring people to town. We should encourage development of small hotels and beds & breakfasts. We should encourage restaurants, antique shops, bakeries, and artistic shops to locate here. Summertime boat service from Seattle to Des Moines makes sense, but has to be thought out carefully (the passenger-only ferries were proposed to be used for commuters only and would not be used for tourism purposes — that is one of the reasons I opposed them). If our residents won’t spend their money in Des Moines, we need to find a way to bring that revenue to Des Moines. Tourism is one of those ways.
SW: Of course! We have a Marina, roughly six miles of shoreline and a wonderful city. I support Water Transportation, specifically passenger only ferries and certainly support the idea of a nice hotel downtown . . . more restaurants, more shops . . . Once the Beach Park is finished we will hopefully contract with a professional management company to bring people into Des Moines via water transportation.
5. Do you support development of Waterview Crossing and Des Moines Creek Business Park? If yes, what will you do to position the city to help these projects move forward? If no, why not?
DK: Yes, I’ve supported Waterview Crossing (I voted for the development agreement in November 2007), and I’m a strong supporter of the Des Moines Creek Business Park. I think we need to take advantage of what limited commercially zoned land we have in Des Moines (downtown, the business park, and Pacific Highway) and encourage businesses to invest in Des Moines. I’ve supported a number of changes to make redevelopment of Pacific Ridge more likely, including adoption of a Multi-Family Tax Exemption, waiver of some traffic impact fees, and the underlying zoning which provides for taller buildings on a stretch of land badly in need of redevelopment. The Des Moines Creek Business Park has a great deal of potential, as do some surrounding properties, and we need to make certain that impacts from that development is well-managed. Part of that is continuing to make progress on our Gateway transportation project for S. 216th Street and 24th Avenue S. As chair of the Public Safety & Transportation Committee, I’ve worked and will continue to work to keep the project moving forward.
SW: Yes, I support both. The economy will need to move forward but I believe the City is well positioned now after all the work that has been done on these projects to move forward.
Coming up next, the candidate for Position #5: Melissa Musser.
In case you live under a rock and haven’t noticed, the fish are bitin’ and people are catchin’ ‘em right here in Des Moines – both at Redondo Beach as well as from the pier.
Photographer Michael Brunk caught these pics of area fisherfolk doing what they do best this time of year – catch salmon:
Longtime resident Susan White caught these pics of successful fishing in Redondo:
HINT: Word on the beach is that the salmon are bitin’ on pink “Buzz Bombs.” Now go do some fishin’ and send us your pics!
UPDATE: Do NOT fish for salmon without a Washington State saltwater license – you can buy them online here.
We welcome back Advertiser Susan White, who is running for her third term as a Des Moines City Councilmember, position #7. The Waterland Blog sat down last week at The Reuben with Susan to find out more about her vision for Des Moines.
“Des Moines is upside down because we do not have enough business sales tax coming into the city and we need more businesses,” Susan started our rather animated conversation with. “Economically we’re facing challenging times,” she added.
“One way to do this is to revive the Des Moines Creek Business Park off 216th, plus we should look to bringing in some big box stores like Home Depot or Costco somewhere in town.”
Other ideas on expansion of the business community are that “We also need a business development coordinator for Des Moines, and we need to support feasible building codes that could increase the height of downtown mixed-use businesses that would not harm anyone’s views” she said.
“As part of the Marina development, we need to do something to attract visitors to Des Moines. That’s why I will continue to support Water Transportation as a good thing for Des Moines and the Puget Sound Region. I think it’s the right thing to do.”
Susan is hoping that first steps towards these ferries will be foot ferries to carry residents and other neighbors to Mariners and Seahawks games.
Susan and her husband Gene have lived in the Redondo area of Des Moines for 20 years. Susan has three daughters and Gene has two sons. With their blended family, they have eight grandchildren, which now includes twin boys born just a few weeks ago.
[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story like this for your Business, along with an Ad on every page seen by thousands of interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]
A big Waterland Blog welcome goes out to our latest Advertiser Susan White!
Susan is running for her third term as a Des Moines City Councilmember, position #7 and she wants your vote in the upcoming primary on August 18.
She told WLB that “it has been an honor to serve the community that I love.”
Susan and her husband Gene have lived in the Redondo area of Des Moines for 20 years. Susan has three daughters and Gene has two sons. With their blended family, they are soon to have eight grandchildren, counting the twin boys on the way.
In 1997 Susan took an active role in in the incorporation of Redondo into the city of Des Moines. It was then that friends and neighbors encouraged her to run for city coucil to ensure that Redondo would have representation in Des Moines. She ran for council in 2001, and the rest is history!
“I am proud of the accomplishments my efforts have brought to Des Moines. The relationships that have been built with our regional, state and federal representatives have resources into Des Moines, and secured a place on the National Register for our Beach Park,” Susan said.
Susan has championed the cause of bringing alternative transportation to Des Moines. “I have been a regional leader on ferry transportation which may soon bring foot-passenger ferries to our waterfront!”
Susan serves on the Senior Advisory Council and assures voters that “the senior community will remain a priority in my next term.”
She has also been involved with successful programs like The Arts Commission and South King County Economic Development Initiative.
Susan wants to assure voters that her “positive vision for our City will remain in these challenging times in order to make Des Moines the best place to live for our families and children.”
Besides seeing Susan out and about in Des Moines and at council meetings, you can see Susan in the Waterland Parade this Saturday riding in a convertible! She will also be speaking at the Des Moines City Council Candidates Night at Huntington Park on July 22.
From her website:
Some of her endorsements:
- South King County Fire and Rescue
- Women’s Political Caucus
- Seattle-King County Association of Realtors
- King County Councilmember Julia Patterson
- Representative Dave Upthegrove
- Senator Tracy Eide
- Senator Karen Keiser
- Representative Tina Orwell
Affiliations include:
- Current Board Member -Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
- Council Representative: Des Moines Senior Services Committee
- Council Representative: Des Moines Arts Commission
- Past Board Member – Suburban Cities Association
- NSDAR Historic Preservation Award – 2007
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