Compiled by Ralph Nichols

Times/News

The Times/News recently submitted questions to Highline-area candidates on the ballot in the Sept. 20 primary election.

These races include King County Sheriff, the Burien and Des Moines city councils, and tWater District 49 and the Highline Water District.

The candidates' responses appear below . An * by a name denoted an incumbent.

King County Sheriff

1. What is your professional background?

2. What new focus will you bring to the "war" on the meth problem in South King County?

3. What will you do to enhance disaster response capabilities in South King County?

4. What will you do to maintain/increase services to contract suburban cities?

Jim Fuda

1. 32 years with the King County Sheriff's Office, including the Patrol Division, Narcotics Unit and King County Jail. I have served as Hostage Negotiations Team Leader, K-9 Unit Sergeant, Traffic Sergeant, Marine Unit Sergeant and Search & Rescue Coordinator.

2. This should be a multi-jurisdictional, as well as multi-agency, effort to combat the war on methamphetamine abuse. Law Enforcement is just one piece of this effort. Educating the public is paramount for two reasons: to hopefully keep our citizens from using the drug, and to have our citizens identify a meth problem in their community so they can work with law enforcement to eliminate the threat. 3. As the county's Search & Rescue coordinator, I am aware of the capabilities already in place. On-going training, at all levels of government, needs to take place on a regular basis. Coordination between agencies, both public and private, is critical for the safety and evacuation of our citizens to a safe location.

4. The Sheriff's Office needs to work more closely with all police agencies in King County to reduce duplication of services and provide a better service to our communities. We can provide a better service and put more "cops" on the street for the same tax dollar if police agencies were able to blend services such as air support, marine units and SWAT.

Sue Rahr *

1. In 1979, with a B.A. in Criminal Justice, I started as a patrol officer with KCSO, working every precinct in the county and a wide variety of assignments, including: Undercover Narcotics, Sexual Assault, Internal Investigations, Gang Unit, and Chief of Police (Shoreline). I have experience directing tactical patrol missions, preparing, presenting and defending a $110 million budget, and lobbying for federal funding of the Air Support Unit and School Resource Officer program.

2. I'm already working with the Attorney General's Office on "Operation: Allied Against Meth" and the King County "Meth Watch" program. Both involve cross-discipline approaches to fighting the problem and engage the community in identifying offenders and meth labs.

3. I initiated a multi-agency exercise for this October which will involve a drill to test the communication capabilities and mobilization plans of all King County police agencies. We will also test our newly trained ability to employ the National Incident Management System.

4. I will seek additional contracting opportunities with Metro Transit, Federal Government Partners (NOAA, DOE, Coast Guard) and other King County cities to ensure that we maintain our current strength to allow cost savings through economies of scale. Our emphasis on customer service will ensure that we main current customers.

Greg Schmidt

1. I've served as a Commander in each of the five Seattle Police precincts in Seattle, including the Warrant and Narcotics Unit. My track record includes cutting government waste and establishing creative and innovative approaches to law enforcement. An example is my creation of the Seattle Police Department's Domestic Violence Unit, which became a model around the country.

2. We need to consider supply and demand. It's great to uncover tunnels where drugs are brought in, but we also have to address demand and the substance abuse issue which crosses all socioeconomic boundaries so we don't make the same mistakes we've made in the past.

3. Multiple agencies from many disciplines respond to these disasters and communication and coordination is our biggest weakness. We need further steps to enhance our joint communication systems and our joint training measures to bring about a more collaborative and effective response.

4. Services need to increase with our contract partners and we need to understand that we've entered the market place where we must be competitive in how we provide the best direct police services possible. A goal to just maintain won't be competitive and we'll lose contracts as exampled by the one we lost last year.

Burien City Council

Position 3

1. What is your professional/public service background?

2. Do you support Town Square as planned? Why/why not?

3. Beyond downtown, what is your top priority for economic development in Burien?

4. What is your top priority for enhancing neighborhoods?

Joan McGilton *

1. Professionally, I am an environmental engineer with over 20 years of program/project management experience for Seattle and Boeing. I was on Burien's first planning commission for six years, am a strong community activist, and have been on Burien council since 2002.

2. I support Town Square but I want the planning process to be more thorough. I am concerned that the city undertakes a reasoned approach to fiscal and marketing accountability in working with the private developer. I want to know how our new retail business will find the market that they need to be successful. I want more community involvement and input to the city's planning process.

3. My top priority is that currently planned city and regional transportation and transit improvements will bring more people to Burien. I would like to see young couples live in this area because it will be an easy job commute to Seattle, Kent and Renton. Young people will revitalize Burien.

4. My top priority is that the city moves forward in 2006 with two neighborhood plans for the city's east side. Neighborhood plans, such as the Shorewood Plan completed in 2005, gives the city agreed-to future planning flexibility while maintaining the vision that the community initiated and developed.

Bob Brice

No response was received from Mr. Brice.

Steve Denmark

No response was received from Mr. Denmark.

Des Moines City Council

Position 1

1. What is your professional/public service background?

2. Do you support a property tax levy lid lift for police services? Why/why not?

3. What is your top priority for economic development near Sea-Tac Airport and along Pacific Highway South?

4. What will you do to encourage Marina-related economic activity downtown?

Ed Pina

1. I have a Masters degree in Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts. I worked for the Boeing Company for 34 years and held increasingly responsible positions of Unit Manager of Math Analysis, Director of Operations Research and Management Science, and Director of Sales Technology. I served six years on the Des Moines Planning Agency and 12 years as a director on the Highline School Board.

2. Yes, I support a property tax levy lid lift for police services. Police protection is one of the prime services a city government needs to provide its' citizens. As a result of the passage of Initiative 695, the Des Moines Police force is down 11 staff members since 1999. Crime is up in Des Moines - a city much larger in area than when we had the extra staff. The proposed levy would cost the average home owner less than one espresso per week.

3. I would like to see Pacific Highway South develop into a site for stores like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Costco, etc. I would like to see downtown Des Moines (Marine View Drive) attract more top-line clothing, jewelry and art stores and restaurants.

Toward this end, Des Moines should do away with their B&O tax as soon as economically feasible.

4. I would like to see the Marina and Beach Park be a weekly location for a farmers market and craftsmen - similar to what Puyallup has.

Bob Polwarth

1. I am a general contractor estimating and managing public works construction projects ranging from $1-5 million, and have a working knowledge of construction costs, building codes, and the impact zoning decisions have on development.

I serve on the 33rd District Democrats Executive Board, assist our church youth group activities, and support Highline School District bonds and levies.

2. The city is in a fiscal straitjacket. I conditionally support a lid lift, but believe a measure that raises much-needed revenue shouldn't be tied to a mandate to "maintain" specified levels of staffing. This jeopardizes future funding for other programs. Targeted funding may be good politics, but it is flawed public policy.

3. Actively push the development opportunity presented by the Port buy out area. However well intentioned, building codes along Pac Highway don't mesh well with private development practices or current market conditions. We cannot afford to wait for the market to catch up to our desire for high-density buildings. These zoning codes should be revisited in this light.

4. On the council, I will push to finally adopt and begin implementing a Marina Master Plan. The ceaseless study of this issue has only enriched consultants and frustrated everybody else.

Maggie Steenrod *

No response was received from Ms. Steenrod.

Water District 49

Commissioner - Position 1

1. What is your professional/public service background?

2. Do you think that the street light issue has been permanently resolved? If not, what will you do to insure that it is?

3. What is your position on inter-ties between Water 49 and neighboring water districts?

4. What is your position on King County's efforts to become a regional water supplier?

Danna Daily

Ms. Daily withdrew from the race; however, it was too late to remove her name from the ballot.

Ray Brickell

1. This November will begin my 26th year as a journeyman gasfitter at Puget Sound Energy, previously at Washington Natural Gas. My public service background has always revolved around youth sports, coaching soccer or baseball, and also umpiring.

2. The street light issue has not been permanently resolved. The commissioners of Water District 49 just recently voted, two for and one against resuming billing for street lighting on a three-year interim basis only. If I am elected, I will petition the other two commissioners to permanently resume this service that I know the customers appreciate. A solution to resolve the current debt to Seattle City Light will be the first priority .

3. Inter-ties between the neighboring water districts is essential in maintaining relationships and protecting the safety network in the event that one of the districts encounters situation in which their ability to serve the customers is in crisis.

4. My position regarding King County's efforts to become a regional water supplier is simply that the city of Seattle does an excellent job of supplying water. I would prefer that we stick with a trusted and experienced supplier rather than be a King County boondoggle victim.

Earl T. DeWitt

1. Six years as a Water District 49 commissioner, a number of years as a Boy Scout leader, and a deacon and elder at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church. Worked for Boeing for 27 years and was a lead and supervisor. Past Master, Des Moines Masonic Lodge 245.

2. The last time that I talked to our manager and attorney, they were still working on the items between the water district and the city of Burien and Seattle City Light. We're working on an interim contract that would go through 2008.

The city has to take some wording out - that the water district has to maintain and operate the lights. We do not have electricians and Seattle City Light owns and operates the street lights. We don't own, operate or maintain the street lights.

3. We've had a good rapport with the other water districts and it works both ways. We've had a good working relationship with the other districts.

4. If the city is going to be the provider, then they're going to have to take over all four of the water districts that are serving Burien - 20, 125, 49 and Highline. I think they have contracts up to 2012. So it would be a big job and handling it would probably be a pretty big job for them to take on.

Highline Water District

Commissioner - Position 1

1. What is your professional/public service background?

2. What is your position on expanding the number of wells operated by Highline Water District?

3. Can the district maintain/upgrade service and keep rates stable? How?

4. What is your position on King County's efforts to become a regional water supplier?

Jerry Guite

1. For the last six years, I have served as a commissioner with the Highline Water District. My wife and I have owned and operated a local business for 35 years, and have been actively involved in many community service organizations. I am a U.S. Air Force Vietnam-era veteran, and a past member of the Kent, Des Moines, Seattle and Southwest Chambers of Commerce.

2. Highline Water District owns and is currently pursuing several water rights within the service area. We recently brought on the new Tyee well, which produces 750,000 gallons per day. Currently, we purchase about 70 percent of our water from the city of Seattle and pump the rest from our wells.

3. I believe we have the best employees of any water district in the state! Our employees care about our ratepayers. We had a work force assessment completed three years ago, which reduced our staff from 45 to 35. Additionally, we have a reasonable union contract. The district has an ongoing replacement/upgrade program. We are constantly working to provide the best water for the best possible price.

4. As far as I know, King County does not own any water rights, so they have no water to pump and no place to store water. The only water that King County has is waste water. I do not know about you, but I do not want to drink King County waste water!

Cathea Stanley

No response was received from Ms. Stanley.

Michael D. Spear

Mr. Spear could not be contacted.

Jill Strode

No response was received from Ms. Strode.

Ralph Nichols can be reached at newsdesk@robinsonnews.com, or at 206-444-4873.