Compiled by Ralph Nichols

The Times/News last week contacted candidates for Highline-area elective offices whose names appear on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

Questions asked in each race and their answers appear below.

All candidates on the ballot are listed. However, due to space constraints only those with opponents were asked to respond to questions.

* incumbent

1. What is your top priority for fighting crime?

2. How will you expand economic development city wide?

3. How will you balance transportation and the environment?

Mayor

Pam Carter

1. My top priority is to fill vacancies in the police department so it has the staffing to address crime prevention, especially in the Tukwila International Boulevard corridor. This will enable the police to target efforts in the areas where they are most needed and to fully utilize its special units such as narcotics investigations.

2. We must move forward on Tukwila Village, a mixed-use high-quality development, as a catalyst to redevelopment along the Tukwila International Boulevard corridor. We must develop a vision and a plan for the highway corridor, especially near the light rail station, so that we can attract quality development. While we must protect and nurture our residential neighborhoods, we should also ensure that development regulations and taxes do not deter businesses from locating here.

3. Our transportation improvements should include elements that make it easier for people to get around by walking, bikes and transit. That means bike lanes, sidewalks, and denser housing near our rail stations. We must ensure that the required mitigations for transportation improvements adequately compensate for unavoidable impacts to the environment.

Jim Haggerton

1. Increase police visibility throughout Tukwila neighborhoods and business districts. This includes re-activating the Police Bicycle Patrol for Highway 99 and other targeted areas. While most people report satisfactory response time when calling 9-1-1, we can always do better and Police visibility will be improved to address concerns regarding burglaries, thefts, prostitution, etc.

2. In short: Get things moving! I made initial contact with a developer over 10 years ago to assemble parcels for the Tukwila Village site on Highway 99. There has been no development to date. I believe with vision, positive negotiations, and signed developer agreements, we can start construction in the very near future. It will take teamwork, but will result in a much more efficient use of city funds.

3. I will work, along with other cities in South King County, with Metro Transit and Sound Transit to expand bus service. We need to make sure there is frequent bus service that connects to the Tukwila Light Rail Station and the Tukwila rail station used by Amtrak and Sounder commuter rail. A permanent facility at the Tukwila Commuter Rail Station is high priority.

City Council

Position 2

Kathy Hougardy

1. On Highway 99 and adjacent neighborhoods, an emphasis on law enforcement and crime prevention. Making sure that Tukwila Police have the resources that they need to make this happen. In our residential communities, increased emphasis on block watches to discourage crime and catch criminal activity.

2. Encourage economic development of the entire city, including: redevelopment of the Associated Grocer's warehouse site in North Tukwila, the Tukwila Valley South potential annexation area, the area around the Tukwila commuter rail station off of Interurban, the area adjacent to new light rail station, and Tukwila Village.

3. Support transportation improvements that contribute to the wetland mitigation bank and other environmental concerns. Encourage development of public transportation that will serve the Tukwila Community. Let county and state planners know that Tukwila should be more than just a transportation corridor that gets people to other cities. And support additional bicycle and pedestrian paths that give people alternative methods of getting around.

Brian P. Kennedy

1. The ideal way to fight crime is prevention. 80 percent of our crime is committed by nonresidents. Having citizens, landlords, retailers and the police meeting to voice their problems and strategies is a great idea. This is already being done, but being more inclusive and frequent will strengthen the fight.

2. We need to accelerate the development process. It is prudent to watch out for Tukwila's interests, but 11 years for Tukwila Village and four years for the Tukwila South Project (LaPianta) is too much. While Tukwila looks for new tax sources, these two projects sit at their front door. They need to get the issues to be worked out, so these developments can get going and the nonresidential taxes flowing.

3. In Tukwila, I will strive to increase the flow of traffic out of gridlock so there is less exhaust from idling. We need an overall bike lane program. A shuttle that circles Tukwila's retail area would help alleviate traffic. A park and ride shuttle could help too. Attending NW Ports Clean Air Strategy meetings will keep citizens involved.

Position 4

Dennis Robertson*

Unopposed

Position 6

Joan M. Hernandez*

Unopposed

Tukwila School Board

(District No. 406)

1. What is your top priority for Tukwila schools?

2. What will you do to improve test scores in the district?

Director, District 2

Amela Babic

Did not respond.

Patti Maltsberger*

1. The top priority for Tukwila Schools for this year is to continue the early literacy efforts that were started last year. Ready for Kindergarten and All-Day Kindergarten are two of the programs helping to get all students ready to be readers. Another task will be to find a new superintendent to lead the district for next year.

2. Improving test scores is difficult when the WASL tests are basically a test of English proficiency. Looking at the score data for students that have at least four years of English, the results are above the state levels. Continuing efforts in literacy will be the only way to accomplish additional improvements.

District 4

Mark Wahlstrom

Unopposed

District 5

(short and full term)

W. Cory Manago

Unopposed