October 2005

The campaign for King County Proposition 1 - the Veterans and Healthy Communities Levy - was officially launched last week.

Proposition 1 would increase funding for health and human services - an estimated $13.3 million a year for six years - by raising the county's property tax by 5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.The average homeowner would pay about $15 more in property tax on a $300,000 home.

Backers of the Veterans and Healthy Communities Levy said it is supported by community leaders, Democratic and Republican elected officials, businesses, hu

With election day less than a month away, John Creighton added another endorsement last week in his race for Seattle Port Commission Position 1.

Creighton was endorsed by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302, the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, and the Seattle King County Association of Realtors.

Former Governor and U.S. Sen.

Des Moines Proposition 1, which appears on November's general election ballot, would lift the city's property tax levy lid to raise additional funds for police services.

Backers of Proposition 1 state that, unlike other levy lift measures, the new funds will go directly to the police department, and may not be used by other city departments and will be audited by the state Auditor's Office.

The levy lid lift is endorsed by the community's Enhanced Public Safety Committee, a group of citizen volunteers that grew out of last summer's Des Moines Mayor's Leadership Summit.

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES/NEWS

Governor Christine Gregoire will preside over the public dedication of the new Higher Education Center at Highline Community College in Des Moines on Tuesday, Oct.

The time is now for the community and police department to work together and make the city of Des Moines a better place to live. You have the power to make a difference.

Proposition 1 will enable our police department to restore lost personnel and to obtain necessary equipment to proactively address crime and the fear of crime within our community.

Since 1999, the police department has lost 24 percent of its personnel. From 2000 to 2004 there was an increase of almost 30 percent in serious crimes.

Congratulations are in order to my opponents in the Des Moines City Council Position 1 primary election. The campaign has been a true learning experience. Now I know how the deer in the headlights feels. To my small band of supporters, I offer my heartfelt thanks, my unending gratitude and sincerest condolences.

All is not lost. The election tally in the primary clearly shows a nearly 2 to 1 margin favoring municipal reform.

History has shown that incumbents in non-partisan races who get less than 50 percent of the vote in the primary election are very seldom elected in the general election.

This must be very distressing for Des Moines Councilwoman Maggie Steenrod, who got less than 37 percent in the primary.

Her election prospects only get worse when voters read her campaign claims closely.

"Endorsed by your Local Firefighter" or endorsed by others the tab attached to the campaign sign reads. Why do we care?

Our economic foundation is built upon people making goods they sell in markets. Service purveyors sell services we purchase with taxes paid from manufactured products.

Because it is their livelihood, service-purveyors want to sell as much service as the market will bear.

Consider the distinction between public-employee unions like police and market-sector unions like machinists.

Pro instruction offered

Local tennis professional Steve Walters again offers area tennis lessons at outdoor locations this summer. Walters, certifed Pro 1 by the United States Professional Tennis Association since 1986, has coached at some of the world's top tennis resorts and academies in Florida, Caifornia, Texas and Canada. Also he traveled on the men's professional tour, including the 1988 U.S. Open, as a traveling coach for world-ranked pros and nationally-ranked juniors.

As a player, Walters has been ranked No.

Volleyball

Highline 3, Lindbergh 0

The Pirates outdistanced Lindbergh, 25-17, 25-17, 25-19, in Seamount League action Tuesday, Oct. 11.

Catie Vigen scored eight kills, two aces and three blocks as Vila Eneliko racked up four kills and two aces. Rachel Johnston had eight kills and three digs, Nellie Tuilemotu 12 assists and Ashley Vaughn 18 assists.

Sequim 3, SCS 1

Sequim scored a 25-19, 25-17, 23-25, 25-16 victory over Seattle Christian.