Larry Phillips, current chair of the Metropolitan King County Council, wants to keep his council seat this election year and plans to do so by promoting his involvement in communities within his council District 4.

Despite all the responsibilities and work involved with chairing the council as a whole, Phillips said it has never had an adverse effect on his commitment to District 4 neighborhoods, which include Queen Anne, Magnolia and Ballard.

"I am still very responsive to constituents' needs," he said in a recent interview.

Phillips has been on the County Council for 12 years and has chaired it since 2004. He was born and raised in Seattle and lives in Magnolia where he said four generations of his family now live.

"This is my home," he said. "I know it very, very well and I have continued enthusiasm for helping the community. By depth and knowledge, I believe I am a great asset to the community."

Before joining the County Council in 1991, Phillips ran Randy Revelle's campaign for King County Council and served as his chief of staff after Revelle won the election.

In 1988, Phillips ran and won election to the Washington State House of Representatives where he represented the 36th Legislative District. He served two terms as a member of the House Education, Local Government, Environmental Affairs, and Revenue Committees.

Even with all of his experience, Phillips said he feels some of his most notable accomplishments have happened while serving on the King County Council, such as his work to protect and secure open space and natural areas within the County.

"I am making sure we all have a great place to call home," he said. "I am one of the guys that makes sure we don't become Las Angelas," meaning that he wants the County to keep its diverse landscapes.

"We have thriving metropolitan communities, urban centers, sleepy suburbs and wonderful rural areas," said Phillips.

Phillips said he feels he has done a more than adequate job as far as being visible within District 4 neighborhoods. He denies the claim made by his opponent Ed Pottharst (Aug. 31 issue of the Ballard News-Tribune, "Pottharst says 'access'") that he lacks visibility and involvement within District 4.

He has helped establish a program with the council in which surplus Metro vans are made available to non-profits across the county.

"The Ballard Food Bank and the Ballard Boys and Girls Club have received vans through my work," he said. Phillips also noted that he has played "important roles" with instigating funding and planning for many Ballard parks, such as Webster Playfield, Baker Park and Boundary Park.

Phillips said for years he has been helpful secure funding for the Northwest Senior Activity Center that basically "keeps the lights on and the bills paid" so the members can continue to stay connected to the community and each other.

Many current issues within the city and the county have made local headlines lately, and Phillips takes particular stances on almost all of them.

One is Southwest Airlines' potential move to Boeing Field, or its official name, King County International Airport.

The noise from airplanes flying above Magnolia neighborhoods is already a problem, he said.

"This just makes it worse, and another 85 flights per day is not acceptable," he added.

He said currently no proposal has been submitted to King County Council and that the whole proposition could stop there.

"I'm not sure what will happen," said Phillips. "Folks from the Port, Chamber and citizens have spoken out against it but no formal proposal has been presented yet. We have a concept and we know what Southwest Airlines wants, but we haven't seen anything definitive from them."

Another important problem, said Phillips, is that Boeing Field is very constrained geographically and he doesn't think there is a lot of room for additional carriers.

"Boeing Field becoming a destination hub is not something we see," he said.

After the Seattle Monorail Project's wavering the past few months, Phillips said he thinks there have been substantial enough changes to the project that "warrant serious consideration for another public vote," which the Seattle Monorail Project agreed with last week when they decided to submit a ballot measure for the Nov. 8 election.

He said he admires the genesis of the project as a grassroots movement and was impressed that citizens took transportation problems into their own hands.

"But what we currently have is far from what voters have voted for in the past," he said. They need to clear up all the questions and present a definitive proposal."

Phillips said he also favors the implementation of a smart card program so travelers can switch from one mode of transportation to another with no hassles.

He doesn't see a need for an umbrella organization for the transportation systems, but wants to see the regional systems working together to reach their common goals.

The future of the Alaska Way Viaduct has become increasingly important within the community, especially after Hurricane Katrina reminded us that nature waits for no one.

Evidence from the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake proved to the city that the viaduct might not hold through another natural disaster and the city is faced with either a rebuild, or the more favored tunnel option.

"We don't have the money to build a tunnel," said Phillips. "If the gas tax is repealed, we should take the available money and restore the viaduct where it stands. That may be the best this generation can do."

He does not agree with Mayor Greg Nickels' recent threat to tear down the viaduct if Initiative 912 is passed, repealing the gas tax that would provide funding for many regional projects.

"You cannot reduce a state highway to a series of streets," said Phillips.

Downsizing within the King County Council has reduced the seats from 13 to nine and Phillips said this not only increases a council member's number of constituents, but also diminishes the voices within communities.

Despite this, he said he is ready for the challenge and wants to continue his career on the County Council.

"I thoroughly enjoy serving the people of this district and this county," said Phillips. "I have just as much energy and know-how. I look forward to serving the communities again."