By Jean Godden

In a couple of weeks Seattle will say hello to the second woman to assume the mayor's office since 1869 when the territorial legislature appointed Henry Atkins the city's first mayor. The new mayor -- the city's fourth within a year -- will lead a growing city of 700,000. 

Contenders for the job are waterfront activist Cary Moon and former U. S. Attorney Jenny Durkan. They were top vote-getters in the August primary, besting a field of 20. Since the primary, Durkan and Moon have faced off in dozens of mayoral forums. They've debated one another so long they sometimes adopt the same phrases. 

They met again Oct. 16 at the NEST (North East Seattle Together) Forum, held in the Brig at Magnuson Park. With Steve Sher as capable moderator, they fielded a dozen questions. Here are some of the points they made:

Seattle parks: Asked about privatization of parks with Green Lake Community Center as an example, both candidates said parks must be kept operating for the public with all having access, even when a third party is involved. Durkan was concerned that parks levy funds not be diverted to general city uses such as mowing lawns on traffic medians. Left unsaid by Moon was whether she has revised her earlier opinion about allowing homeless to camp in parks.

Housing and homelessness: Durkan reviewed her comprehensive approach to homelessness calling for 300 new shelter beds and 1000 tiny homes, as well as a voucher system to prevent homelessness. Moon was less specific, saying, "What we are doing isn't working." Moon believes that "we are in a housing bubble and we have to get our housing market under control," perhaps referring to her controversial plan to tax out-of-city home buyers.

Budget: Moon wants the city to "increase its Rainy Day fund" and offer more technical assistance to small businesses. Durkan called for fiscal restraint, saying it is essential to concentrate on basic city services and not use one-time levy money to fill potholes. She wants more medics and social services for the less fortunate. 

Nevertheless, the NEST forum ended on a join-hands note with each candidate saying, whether or not elected, she would continue to work to better the city and might hire the other to work in her administration. In other words: "Kumbaya."  However, they departed going their separate ways.

Taxes: Moon deplored Washington's regressive tax system and wants "to work with the state." She backs a capital gains tax for high earners -- more appeal to the state -- and said she would "work with other mayors."  Durkan worried about people being taxed out of their homes, about aggressive selling of reverse mortgages and the time it takes to approve detached housing that could assist elders. 

Density: Moon said that she would "sit down with neighborhoods to plan where to put density" and would "hire young people to go door to door to look at the housing market."  Durkan, too, wants to listen to communities about where to site more density.

Police: Durkan cited her work with the Department of justice, negotiating a consent decree with Seattle "since mayors and police chiefs come and go." Moon had less knowledge of police activities, but said she wanted "the least violent, most unbiased police force."

The forum concluded with each candidate asking the other a question. Moon asked Durkan what she had done to make Seattle a better city. Durkan had a lengthy list from doorbelling for causes as a youngster, working as a public defender, setting up the first mental health clinic and crafting a nondiscrimination bill. 

Durkan asked Moon: "What have you done in this (Magnuson) park?" Moon reported she had sailed, walked the wetlands and accompanied dog-walking friends. 

Given some similar positions, voters will likely make a choice based on candidates' resumes. On one hand, Durkan has a record as a U. S. Attorney, former adviser to Gov. Mike Lowry, civil rights advocate and defense attorney. Meanwhile, Moon unsuccessfully opposed the Alaskan Way tunnel, did some ill-described work in a family business and helped write a Pioneer Square neighborhood plan that specifically excluded more low-income facilities.

Most voters would pick the longer, more substantive resume of Jenny Durkan to manage a city with a $5.3 billion annual budget and 12,000 employees. I know that I will cast my vote for Jenny Durkan and hope for a stable city, something we need in these troubled times.