Dwight Pelz has spent the last eight years serving on the Metropolitan King County Council, but said he now wants to try his hand at the many "exciting decisions facing the Seattle City Council."

Besides the fact that Pelz' seat on the County Council is to be eliminated due to county downsizing, he said he is running for City Council because he says it is at the forefront of many of the important decisions being made that effect the direction of the city.

"I think you can sense from my energy that I like problems, I like discussing them and coming up with answers," he said during an interview last week. "People like working with me."

It has been about 32 years since a previously elected official has been on the City Council, Paul Kraabel in 1974. Both were in he Washington Legislature previously.

"I don't think there is a lot of mentorship in the council right now," said Pelz. "I can bring new perspective on how to be a legislator."

He offered an example.

"The Council has a hard time taking on the mayor," he claimed. He said in his current position he challenges King County Executive Ron Simms when he doesn't agree with him.

"The Council doesn't do that with the Mayor," said Pelz.

If he were to be elected to the City Council, Pelz pledged that he would not be afraid to challenge the Mayor in the same fashion he challenges Simms.

"I would work with (the Mayor) when I agree, and challenge him when I don't," he said. "I am a tough opponent when I disagree with a subject.

Pelz also charged the City Council with operating more like a debating society than a Legislative branch of government.

"They never say anything, they never do much, no wonder the Mayor runs all over them," he said. 'Why is the council not coming up with any ideas? The mayor is. And they are complaining that he has too much power - well, take some back."

Pelz also didn't seem to hold back when it came to criticizing his opponent, incumbent and eight-year council member Richard McIver.

"It's easy for a challenger to say an incumbent misses meetings, but I served with (McIver) on the Sound Transit board, and I have to say I am a much stronger member of the board than McIver," he said, adding that McIver lacks the leadership qualities it takes to get things done.

"Look, he falls asleep in meetings regularly," said Pelz. "I don't think he has a burning desire to see the city change and evolve. But I am running because I do have that and I want to see this city grow."

Originally, Pelz started his campaign against council member Richard Conlin, but soon announced that he was changing his tack and would challenge McIver instead.

"It's an odd system, " he said. "I realized I made a mistake. I was out there testing the waters. After talking to people I found out Conlin has been a hard worker for the communities and neighborhoods. I found out that McIver was not. And I feel you should be working hard in this business."

Pelz said he is excited to be a part of Seattle during this time of urban growth with neighborhoods developing more housing and apartment complexes.

He said urban hubs, like West Seattle, are so heavy with foot traffic and that there seems to be a certain acceptance that these "islands of density can improve our neighborhoods, and that they can be a sort of amenity to these neighborhoods."

"I think people are starting to understand that urban living has a lot to offer," said Pelz. "They realize they can go to their neighborhood (pub or restaurant), and have a good beer that's not a Budweiser, have a good burger, all in their own neighborhood, and I think people are starting to see that it's a pretty high quality of life. In some ways Seattle is doing something no other city is doing - embracing density."

Pelz also had strong thoughts on the uncertain Seattle Monorail Project.

"I think the monorail will die a slow but thoughtful, death, " he said. "That's what's going on right now."

Pelz said he doesn't think the board will be able to realistically meet the Mayor's deadline, of Sept. 15 to come up with a feasible and acceptable finance plan.

"If it dies then we need to ask ourselves if we are able to commit to finding a mass transit solution."

Pelz claimed he has never been a supporter of the Green Line project .

"I object to a second technology and a second agency," he said. "But it is a reflection of what we love about Seattle and what drives us crazy about Seattle."

Pelz proposed that something be done about the inevitable problem West Seattle is sure to face when the viaduct is out of commission, either by nature or by purpose, and if the monorail doesn't get built.

There must be dedicated access to and from West Seattle, he said.

"A street car out of West Seattle would have some Merit," he said, adding that West Seattle needs a dedicated right-of-way regardless of what happens to the monorail or the viaduct. He said the city should take a serious look at proposing a streetcar to the Legislature.

When Pelz served in the Washington Senate, he represented South Park. A sliver of South Park at the end of the 16th Avenue Bridge is an unincorporated county island. City police cannot arrest people on the county section and crimes have been known to occur freely here.

"The sliver by the river needs to go away," Pelz said, meaning that it needs to be incorporated to some jurisdiction.

Similarly, the 16th Avenue South Bridge to East Marginal Way has been in need of repairs for years, yet the city and the county has not been able to come to an agreement as to who should pay for repairs or replacement.

Pelz said a large part of the problem is a section of the bridge mechanics are considered to be a historical landmark, adding another reason why a solution has been so slow to come by.

"We can come to a solution for that," he said. "The problem is when the voters repeal taxes, you can't blame the politicians and the discussions. If the voters don't feel we should pay taxes to build roads, we won't build roads."

Ultimately, Pelz said he is running for City Council because this is his city.

"I was born here, it's a great city," said Pelz. "There are lots of really exciting decisions coming up. There hasn't been an experienced, energetic, critical thinker like me running for City Council. I can change the City Council. I'm not gonna blow it up, I'm just gonna nudge it in an interesting direction."

Primary elections are Sept. 20.

Rebekah Schilperoort can be reached at rebekah@robinsonnews.com or 783.1244.