Jessie Israel, the only Ballardite in the 2009 Seattle City Council race, isn't doing so well in the polls, trailing incumbent Nick Licata 56.5 percent to 43.3 percent as of Nov. 5. But, that doesn't mean she is ready to stop working toward improving her neighborhood and her city.

"I know that Nick is the victor, but I feel great about the race we ran," Israel said.

She said she loved the experience of running for the city council – knocking on doors, meeting people face-to-face and hearing the opinions of voters.

In order to keep Ballard and other Seattle neighborhoods on the right track, Licata and the rest of the elected officials will need to bring more solutions to the table and refocus on what it takes to successfully run a city," she said.

Israel said public safety and education need to be a priorities.

"We need more cops," she said. That has become pretty acute recently. We are failing kids in our public schools, and we have to turn that around."

She said those goals are doable despite the difficult budget situation.

Israel said there needs to be more infrastructure development in Ballard. Density increased in the neighborhood, but things like parks and transit did not, she said.

"Those are the things that will keep Ballard livable," she said.

For her part, Israel will be continuing her involvement in the Ballard Food Bank and City Year, a youth service organization.

Ballard residents need to make sure their voices heard in government, she said.

Israel encouraged residents to attend community meetings and get involved with the city's neighborhood plan process.

"It's a great opportunity for people to get their fingerprints on what our neighborhood is going to look like," she said.

She said there will be challenges ahead, and the community will have to get creative and work together to overcome them.

"I look forward to rallying people in Ballard and seeing other Ballard residents do the same," Israel said.

She said Seattle is changing, and there are two ways the community can behave.

"We can dig in our heels and say it's not going to change, or we can be architects of how it's going to change," she said.

Israel said she would rather she and the Ballard community be the latter.

"Even though I didn't win this race, I am so excited to be a part of that."