Federal Way City Council candidates participated in a questionnaire from the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce. A sample is provided here. Read more candidate answers online at federalwaychamber.com/pages/Advocacy.
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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?
• Roger Flygare (position 3): 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.
• Susan Honda (position 3): 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.
• Bob Celski (position 5): I would like the council to spend more time, energy and effort bringing jobs back to this city. We must find a way to attract known, solid companies to Federal Way to fill up the vacant offices, shops and retail businesses. We must have a concerted effort to keep our citizens interested in making their purchases here rather than elsewhere, and attract outsiders to come here to shop. A quantifiable goal, then, to accomplish is to lower the unemployment rate by 2 percent over the first year of my participation on the council using active means to bring back jobs to the city.
• Jack Dovey (position 5): The sale of the AMC property to a developer that can produce the product that will help kick start our downtown development.
• Dini Duclos (position 7): Economic development is such a critical and pivotal need to ensure a strong future for our city. We need a successful project to be located downtown which will serve as a jumping off point or magnet for future development. I want very much to secure a downtown project that will help jump start the reformation of our City Center and economic development.
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Q: Have you ever owned or managed a business? If yes, please explain.
• Roger Flygare (position 3): Yes, I currently operate Flygare & Associates Inc., a professional legal services corporation, which will be celebrating its 34th year of operation in 2012.
• Susan Honda (position 3): For five years I managed the Federal Way PTA Clothing Bank serving the children of the Federal Way School District. We turned away no one, everyone was welcome. We were open twice a week. In addition to being open twice a week I worked to get grants and funding from City of Federal Way and King County. We also received funding from schools, churches and individuals. I coordinated the volunteers which came from the schools. I also coordinated volunteers from youth groups and churches.
• Bob Celski (position 5): Managed: Yes. I have been a manager and executive in several businesses over the past 20 years. My most rewarding was when I was vice-president of Thompson Family Jiffy Lubes from 2003 to 2006, a Jiffy Lube franchise owned and operated out of Federal Way. I managed a staff of 12 managers and office staff supporting 45 stores and 500 employees with finance and accounting, HR, IT, inventory management, commercial sales, budgeting, analysis and other areas. Own: Yes. I own two LLC’s that have rental homes and provide property management of the homes. I also own a sole proprietorship in the nutritional supplements business called Setting The Trend.
• Jack Dovey (position 5): I have owned a business since 1987. I have employed up to 60 people and had 10 locations.
• Dini Duclos (position 7): I have been the Executive/CEO of two not-for-profit organizations. While these businesses do not necessarily face the same issues as for-profit organizations, we do have similar issues (i.e., making sure we stay in business by earning profits; offering outstanding customer service; paying state business taxes, etc.). I have been very successful in turning two troubled agencies with fiscal and programmatic issues and turning them into outstanding organizations that are run efficiently and effectively. In addition, I have always worked to build strong and motivated employee bases who reflect creativity and company loyalty.
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Q: Have you been involved in a campaign on behalf of another candidate or cause? If so, please identify the candidate or cause and describe your role.
• Roger Flygare (position 3): Over the years, I have managed a judicial campaign and state legislative campaigns. Marilyn Sellers for King County Superior Court, Frank Warnke and Ernie Crane for state Legislature, as well as worked on Mike Todd’s campaign and a number of other campaigns. I spearheaded a group to keep a level 3 sexual offender transition home out of Federal Way and this was successful. I spearheaded the South King County ball field relocation effort and that was successful as well.
• Susan Honda (position 3): I have worked on two presidential campaigns, director Ann Murphy’s campaign for Federal Way School Board and Linda Kochmar’s campaign for mayor of Federal Way. I was co-chair of the Federal Way school levy committee of 1996 and worked on many other levies and bond issues for the Federal Way School District.
• Bob Celski (position 5): I have never been involved in a campaign other than simple sign-waving or having a yard sign displayed in my yard.
• Jack Dovey (position 5): Yes, I have helped Federal Way Mayor Skip Priest in many campaigns.
• Dini Duclos (position 7): Yes. I served on Jim Ferrell’s campaign committee in his run for Federal Way City Council; served as campaign chair for Maryanne Mitchell’s last campaign for state representative, and was co-chair of Tony Moore’s campaign for state representative. I also served on the Municipal League’s Bond Issue committee. Most recently I supported Tracey Eide’s campaign for re-election to the State Senate and appeared in her TV commercial because of her strong support of the Chamber Business Incubator as well as Cascadia MedTech Accelerator for Federal Way. Prior to my election I served on the Planning Commission and the Parks and Recreation Committees. As a council member I currently represent the city of Federal Way on the Regional Policy Council as serve as vice chair.
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Contact council candidates (web, phone and email)
• Roger Flygare (position 3): www.vote4rogerflygare.com, (253) 661-2711, roger@vote4rogerflygare.com
• Susan Honda (position 3): www.hondaforfw.com, (253) 838-0734, hondafw@hotmail.com
• Bob Celski (position 5): www.electcelski.com, (253) 925-5242, electcelski@gmail.com
• Jack Dovey (position 5): www.jackdovey.com, (206) 730-2612, jackdovey@gmail.com
• Dini Duclos (position 7): www.diniduclos.com, (253) 740-0124, dini@diniduclos.com
• Keith Tyler (position 7): www.tylerforcouncil.org, (206) 249-8368, info@tylerforcouncil.org (note: Tyler did not participate in the Chamber questionnaire)
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Debates, school board candidates
• Federal Way School Board candidates received a short questionnaire from The Mirror. Participants’ answers will be printed early next month.
• General election debates for three city council races are scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at Federal Way High School’s little theater (located at S. 304th Street and Pacific Highway South). Candidates for the three city council races are also invited to a forum 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon at Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club. Debates for school board, Lakehaven and South King fire commissioners will run 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Federal Way High School’s little theater.