At this year’s Fremont Chamber Picnic in the Park, all mayoral, city attorney and city council candidates were invited to an afternoon lunch at Gaswork’s park to discuss their platforms for this coming fall’s elections.

One-by-one, each candidate was given a few minutes to discuss how they could improve Seattle followed by a round-table for concerned citizens to be given a chance to ask questions, discuss concerns and get to know the candidates.

Candidates for Seattle Mayor

Jan Drago
Current Seattle City Council member Drago said her priority is to revitalize the economy and create more jobs in the city. In order to move forward with that agenda, Drago said the city has to work with its regional partners, empower the neighborhoods and give them a seat at the decision-making table during the budget process.

Joe Mallahan
Born and raised in the Northwest, Mallahan said he brings 20 years of experience in working in the private sector bringing large groups of diverse people together to solve problems. Hoping to pick up the pieces of what he called a "broken city," Mallahan hopes to be a mayor the city can trust again.

James Donaldson
Calling himself the “big man looking out for the little guy,” Donaldson, an ex-Seattle Sonic player said as mayor he would like to employ more people in the community, create living-wage jobs, give back to the community and be a mayor who cares about relationships are from city hall all the way to Olympia. He said as mayor he would work with the council and school districts.

Norman Sigler
A small business owner, Sigler considers himself a candidate with fresh leadership. He said his major focus would center around transportation, education, small businesses and the economy. He said the city needs better east-to-west movement.

Michael McGinn
Recognizing that Seattle is facing tough economic times and choices, McGinn said it all starts by supporting schools and families. He would also create Internet infrastructure and better local transit. With his experience as a business lawyer and President of Greenwood Community Council, McGinn said he would like to work with neighborhoods, and businesses to prepare for the city's future.

Kwame Wyking Garrett, Elizabeth Campbell and current mayor Greg Nickels are also running.

Candidate for City Council Position 2

Richard Conlin
Current Seattle City Council president, Conlin will be running for re-election. He said he's seeking another term because he’s the "go to person" to get things done. Conlin said he’s accomplished projects because he listens and will tell people realistically what he can do and try to work out win-win situation to problems. He said he is honest.

Conlin is running against David Ginsberg, who was not present.

Candidates for City Council Position 4

David Bloom
A long time community organizer, Bloom’s agenda is to increase the low-income housing supply by at least 5,000 units above and beyond the housing levy, work on the passage of a living-wage ordinance and shift from funding the “Mercer mess” to rebuilding neighborhood structures and supporting small businesses.

Dorsol Plants
Plants said he’d like to create better communication between the government and the government's of businesses and neighborhoods. With his past military and homeless center case manager experience, Plants said he would work to solve problems within communities.

Sally Bagshaw
Bagshaw said she is running to accomplish three things; create more jobs, connect transportation systems and create safe neighborhoods. With her experience as a business lawyer, she said the city needs someone who can talk to businesses to help raise revenue for the city.

Thomas Tobin and Brian Carver are also running.

City Council Position 6

Jessie Israel
King County employee and Ballard resident Jessie Israel said she knows government and she knows how to change the culture of the government. Israel is running because she said in the next 20 years there will be more than a million people in the city and there is not enough housing and transit for them. Israel hopes to help the council build a more walkable city.

Marty Kaplan and city council incumbent Nick Licata are also running in this race.

City Council Position 8

Robert Rozenkranz
Rozenkranz said in order to allow neighborhoods to control their density and shape their visions consistent to what they believe, he will propose revenue sharing between neighborhoods and the city. He feels the city has lost a strong city council that will advocate for neighborhoods. He said he cab bring that ability back to the council.

David Miller
Past president of Maple Leaf Neighborhood Council, Miller is running because he would like to be the individual who can represent businesses. With 17 years of business software experience, he said he has the breadth of experience to represent their views, along with the views of neighborhoods, to the city council.

Jordan Royer
Looking for a change in the number of taxes coming down from government, Royer said with his experience in business and government he can bring people together to solve problems. He said the city needs to be a voice that people in Olympia can listen to again.

Mike O’Brien
O’Brien is running because he would like to close the gap between reality and political reality. He said the city needs affordable housing, a reliable transportation system and great neighborhood schools so kids can have a quality education regardless of where they live. He would like to make housing, transportation and education a priority.

Rusty Williams and Bobby Forch are also running.

Seattle City Attorney

Pete Holmes
A business bankruptcy lawyer for 25 years, Holmes said he has earned a reputation as a hard worker and one who seeks the truth and facts.

Tom Carr
Seattle City Attorney since 2002, Carr is running for re-election because the city has held him responsible for the city's public safety for the past eight years, he said. As city attorney, he has helped to decrease stolen cars last year by 60 percent and feels his experience makes him qualified to do this job for another term.