Primary election candidates for Federal Way City Council position 3 are Roger Flygare, Susan Honda, Mark Koppang and Scott Sparling. Each candidate answered three questions for a video interview with The Mirror (select the individual candidate’s video from the menu above, which includes Federal Way School Board candidates):

1. What will make you an effective city council member?

2. What kind of economic development project should be the top priority for Federal Way?

3. What is your proudest accomplishment in public service?

The Federal Way Chamber issued a questionnaire to the four city council (position 3) candidates in the August primary election. To view the candidates’ answers to all 17 questions, including their answers below, click here or scroll to the bottom of this page.

A debate for primary election candidates for Federal Way School Board and Federal Way City Council will run 6 to 8 p.m. July 13 at Federal Way High School.

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ROGER FLYGARE (click here for video)

Bio: Flygare is known in Washington legal circles from his 30-plus years as a court reporter and owns two small businesses in Federal Way.

Q: Realizing that you may be serving Federal Way in office next year, what one thing, more than any other, do you want to see accomplished?

Another tough question since there are a number of hot button topics in the community, but I think the overwhelming and head-of-the-list two issues are the vacant AMC lot and the removal of Federal Way for a light rail connection.

Q: If Federal Way is facing a revenue shortfall, would you work to raise taxes and fees in order to keep the current programs and services, would you advocate cutting programs and services, or would you do some of both? Which programs and services would you cut first?

I think the city council in general as well as the mayor’s office are empowered by the people to identify sources of revenue, use those revenues wisely, and when shortfalls unexpectedly arise to work with the citizens to find solutions so as to abate cutting programs and services. Complete programs may have to be eliminated because to reduce them may cause a crippling effect and therefore create a waste of public funds by that department not being able to carry out its mission. The City of Federal Way might well consider combining some of its services with other nearby city governments like Des Moines and Auburn in keeping everyone’s services as vibrant as possible. Having not been on the council, I am not intimately aware of the possibilities that might exist but you can be sure that I would work hard to find them.

Info: www.vote4rogerflygare.com or jona@flygare.com or (253) 929-9430

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SUSAN HONDA (click here for video)

Bio: Honda is a community volunteer who serves as chair of the Federal Way Arts Commission and Federal Way Diversity Commission. She has served as a member of the Boys and Girls Club board of directors; an adult leader in the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts; PTA council president; and on school levy organizations.

Q: Realizing that you may be serving Federal Way in office next year, what one thing, more than any other, do you want to see accomplished?

As a council member, I would like to see our buildings and stores occupied. In order to do this, I believe that we should form a downtown association of merchants and property owners who can work together along with the city and Chamber to strengthen our downtown core. By reaching out, advertising and targeting select markets, we can take small steps to redevelop our downtown core and bring jobs to Federal Way.

Q: If Federal Way is facing a revenue shortfall, would you work to raise taxes and fees in order to keep the current programs and services, would you advocate cutting programs and services, or would you do some of both? Which programs and services would you cut first?

I would not cut any programs or services. I would go through the budget line by line and find out where we can make reductions in spending. By doing this I would find inefficiencies and waste, cut them and not make a big impact on citizens. I would not increase taxes or fees.

Info: www.HondaforFW.com or hondafw@hotmail.com or (253) 838-0734

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MARK KOPPANG (click here for video)

Bio: Koppang is a national accounts manager for Ampac. He is a 15-year Federal Way resident who has been involved with his church and the Marine Hills swim club board.

Q: Realizing that you may be serving Federal Way in office next year, what one thing, more than any other, do you want to see accomplished?

The budget is a big issue, but after talking with the mayor, I have confidence the tough decisions are being made and will continue to be made. The one thing I would focus on is getting some movement on developing the AMC site. Federal Way needs to fight blight and provide incentive and opportunity for development that will serve as a magnet for S. Puget Sound.

Q: If Federal Way is facing a revenue shortfall, would you work to raise taxes and fees in order to keep the current programs and services, would you advocate cutting programs and services, or would you do some of both? Which programs and services would you cut first?

The reality right now is that government, like all of us, has to do more with less. I don’t think there is any appetite for a tax increase in Federal Way. While we have a revenue problem now, we will always have a revenue problem if we resort to tax increases to solve them. Tax increases tend to disincentivize income-producing activities, making them ultimately counterproductive when facing a revenue shortfall. Regarding fees, I don’t think fees should be raised across the board to meet a short-term revenue goal. Regarding which programs and services I would cut first, assuming it was necessary, I would consult with the boards and commissions to get recommendations.

Info: koppangforcouncil@gmail.com or (253) 250-8022

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SCOTT SPARLING

Note: Sparling did not participate in the Federal Way Chamber’s questionnaire or Federal Way Mirror’s video projects.

Bio: Sparling is owner of GiggleWorks, a Federal Way entertainment company.

Quote: “I believe that city government needs to become more accessible and responsive to the citizens of Federal Way,” said Sparling, a 24-year resident of Federal Way, in a news release. “I know that I can help provide that contact with the people. I want to listen, hear and understand what our neighbors have to say, and actively be part of the solution to make us all feel heard and significant in our own city.”

Contact: giggleworks@aol.com

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FEDERAL WAY CHAMBER QUESTIONNAIRE (see below or click here):

FWChamber.primary.questionnaire

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