King County Executive Dow Constantine invited the public to a West Seattle re-election fundraiser supporting Seattle City Councilmember and Transportation Committee Chair Tom Rasmussen Tuesday, March 22. The event took place in the evening at Puget Ridge Co-Housing, 7020 18th SW, a few blocks west of the South Seattle Community College.

King County Councilmember Joe McDermott appeared to lend his support. McDermott, Constantine, and Rasmussen are all West Seattle residents. Rasmussen is running for a third term in Position 5 and is so far unopposed. Candidates have until mid-june to file.

RASMUSSEN SPOKE

"Before I chaired the Transportation Committee I chaired the Housing, Human Services, Health Committee and that was where my initial passion for running for City Council came from," Rasmussen told attendees. "I really wanted to continue to work for seniors and people with disabilities and was able to work on those issues for four years strengthening our funding for housing for (them.)

"Then during the first two years of my second term I chaired the Parks Committee. We were able to pass and renew the (2008) Parks Levy which resulted in the new wonderful athletic field in Delridge that used to be nothing but mud and sand and rock.

DEEP BORE TUNNEL

"My primary goal with regard to the viaduct project and the tunnel is to make sure that the city's interests are protected. The more we cooperate with the state the better the outcome for the City of Seattle."

A question came from an audience member who said, "This mayor appears be doing anything that he can to stop the tunnel." He said that Mayor McGinn has suggested shutting down the viaduct with no alternative in place, and said to Rasmussen, "I'd like your opinion."

"You can't shut down the viaduct without a viable plan," Rasmussen responded. "The plan would have to include major revisions to our downtown streets and a lot more public transportation. As I said, Metro may have to cut back, so we can't even maintain the service we have now, and the state is not funding that option.

"We have a plan. We are going into year-eleven now since the Nisqually Earthquake. To go back and start over again seems irresponsible to me (...) a waste of tens of millions of dollars that have gone into the planning that's occurred already. There is no ideal plan (...) But this one (the deep bore tunnel) can work and has a unique opportunity to have the most amazing waterfront, devote more streets and roads to pedestrians, bicyclists and transit and get that heavy traffic under and out of the city."

DOW CONSTANTINE

"I'm supporting Tom Rasmussen as I have in the past," Constantine told the West Seattle Herald. "He is doing a great job on the City Council and has been a great leader not only on human services which was his forte in his earlier professional life but also on human rights, transportation, the environment, and a whole range of issues that I care about. And he's a fellow West Seattleite. Joe (McDermott) and I support him a lot and look forward to working with him for the next four years."

KIM BECKLUND

Kim Becklund is a member 34th District and on the Legislative Advisory Committee, and a sponsor of this event. She is also on the board of the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association.

"I admire Tom and worked for elected officials for many, many years, and he is one of those really special people who work very, very hard," she told the Herald. "He is everybody's elected official in terms of being an every day person. But in terms of how he plays with everybody else he is very collaborative, but he is deliberative, too. I am the transportation policy advisor for the City of Bellevue. Tom and our elected officials who are involved in transportation have been forging great relations. I live in West Seattle like he does and have taken a personal interest in him."

SPS BOARD MEMBER PETER MAIER

"I support Tom Rasmussen's work on the City Council including working with our Seattle schools issues which I care so deeply about," said Seattle Public School Board Member Peter Maier representing District 1 including the Ballard area. "Tom has been a strong supporter of the Families and Education Levy which will be on the November ballot which we all want to see passed. Seattle voters have always been strong supporters of our schools and our families. The needs of our kids are great and the schools are the bedrock of our city."

ED MUNRO'S SON

Allan and wife Eleanor Munro of North Admiral were present to lend Rasmussen their support. Allan, an attorney, said he was a campaign manager for his father, Ed Munro, a Washington State Legislator, Chairperson of the Ways and Means Committee in the House, a King County Commissioner, and a King County Councilman from the Burien, White Center, Des Moines area. Ed Munro Seahurst Park, 13059 16th Ave SW, was named after him.