Closer to Home

And now to finish off the Voters' Pamphlet, for those of you in Seattle.

United States Representative, 7th District: STEVE BEREN
Old Baghdad Jim has got to go. He's part of the problem in DC, not part of the solution. Please, let's get rid of him.

State Senator, 46th District: BRIAN TRAVIS
The incumbent, Jacobsen, wants to get rid of the initiative system. I guess he thinks the government in Olympia is doing a swell job. . . I beg to differ.

State Representative, 46th Dist., Pos. 1: SEPTEMBER SECRIST
Her entire blurb is NO TUNNEL!! Good enough for me.

State Representative, 46th Dist., Pos. 2: KEITH NILS LJUNGHAMMAR
His entire blurb is NO TUNNEL!! Sounds familiar? Well, it still works for me.

King County Proposition 1: YES
Let's get the county government out of the real estate business and give usable land to people who will actually be productive with it.

King County Proposition 2: NO
More taxes for transportation goodies that the county promised us with the last transportation tax increase? I don't think so. Use the money you're already taking from us. It should be more than enough.

Seattle City Council Position 9: STAN LIPPMANN
His opponent, Clark, was hand-picked as a replacement councilperson by the rest of the city council. No matter what Stan Lippmann will say and do, he'll be an independent voice on a council that otherwise might as well be just one person instead of nine.

Seattle Initiative 91: YES
No special treatment and government subsidies for sports teams just because they're sports teams.

Seattle Referendum Measure 1: NO
Our city's latent conservativism rears its ugly head again. The city council want to abolish strip clubs. While I've never been to one, I think other adults should be able to, if they so desire.

Seattle Charter Amendment 6: YES
I've read/seen enough disaster/armageddon scifi books/movies/etc. to know that emergency planning is a good thing.

Seattle Charter Amendment 7: YES
See number 6, above.

Seattle Charter Amendment 8: YES
This will put three department heads on the same 4-year reconfirmation schedule as all the other department heads. Accountability is good.

Seattle Charter Amendment 9: NO
Ten years ago, Seattle replaced two positions which were directly elected by the populace with the city auditor, which is an appointed position. And now the council wants even more direct control. Consolidating power is a bad thing.

Seattle Charter Amendment 10: YES
This would spread out the power of who chooses the people who control the zoning laws. Spreading out the power is a good thing.

Seattle Charter Amendment 11: YES
Paperwork. Nothing to see here.

Seattle Charter Amendment 12: NO
This would let appointed council members (See Position 9, above) vote on proposing charter amendments. I think it's reasonable to only allow elected members mess with the city charter. No coup d'états allowed!

Seattle Charter Amendment 13: YES
Paperwork. Nothing to see here.

Seattle Charter Amendment 14: YES
Paperwork. Nothing to see here.

Seattle Charter Amendment 15: YES
Fixing typos. Nothing to see here.

Seattle Charter Amendment 16: YES
Fixing typos. Nothing to see here.

Seattle Proposition 1: NO
You don't really want to give the government more of your hard-earned money, do you? Have you seen what they've done with all the rest of the taxes they've collected? No? Well, that's because they're incompetent and haven't accomplished anything.

So, there you go. On November 7, vote. And be sure to vote right!