Federal Way City Council position 6

Of the five candidates vying for Federal Way City Council position 6, The Mirror recommends electing Roger Freeman and Diana Noble-Gulliford.

Freeman exudes a message that’s missing from the council. Freeman’s eye is on the people, and electing him to the council will amplify that strength. Freeman advocates for more festivals that show off Federal Way’s diversity, all while promoting community unity. Freeman is already a role model for Federal Way youth, whether speaking at informal gatherings or volunteering with the Adelaide Elementary PTA. He will need to catch up on everyday policy and city business issues, but Freeman is an intelligent soul who will learn quickly.

Diana Noble-Gulliford is more prepared out of all candidates to hit the ground running. Noble-Gulliford has deep roots in Federal Way, from incorporation to growth spurt. In terms of municipal government and its processes, Noble-Gulliford knows the lingo and knows what to expect. As the most practical candidate, she would mix well with established council members. Noble-Gulliford was a key player in publishing a recent book on Federal Way’s history, which demonstrates her interest in the community’s fabric.

David St. John is an appealing candidate because of his raw business acumen. St. John would be vocal on fiscal restraint, which is a healthy mindset for Federal Way. St. John would be more likely than Noble-Gulliford to shake up the city council’s dynamic, and he may appeal to voters who prefer a conservative businessman on the dais.

Of the remaining candidates, Lorie Wood shows potential to be an elected official. She has the heart and the will to serve, along with experience as a small-business owner. If she learns the ins and out of elections this time around, then expect her to rise again. In his second attempt at city council, Troy Smith presented a sincere desire to reform the relationship between the city and its schools. Smith may want to steer his message toward the Federal Way School Board.

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Federal Way Municipal Court judge position one

Of the six candidates vying for Federal Way Municipal Court judge position one, Rebecca Robertson and Matthew York have the strongest qualifications for the job. All five candidates running for the position against current judge Michael Morgan have vowed to change the tone at the court. Robertson and York have prior judicial experience, and that carries a lot of weight. Voters are electing a judge, not a supervisor, even if the latter is a valid concern during this election.

In black-and-white terms, Robertson and York rise to the top because of their resumes. However, for voters who insist their elected officials have roots in Federal Way, then Robertson (from Seattle) and York (from SeaTac) are not your candidates.

Three of the six candidates reside in Federal Way: Mark Knapp, James Santucci and Morgan. All three have logged years of experience practicing law in the private world. For Knapp and Santucci, this experience will translate well as elected judges. Knapp will take a workingman’s approach to the job. Santucci delivers a rich background in municipal law. Knapp and Santucci would do the job justice and make their communities proud.

The only candidate not mentioned so far, Williams Jarvis, had the most direct and accurate critique of Morgan: He was offended that the presiding judge, Michael Morgan, used the office to shield himself from improper conduct. Jarvis could have been a stronger candidate had he still been active in a law career.

All dirty laundry aside, Morgan is the most qualified candidate on paper, with four years as a judge and no official reprimands regarding decisions from the bench. However, based on reports of inappropriate behavior, including a reprimand from the Commission on Judicial Conduct, The Mirror cannot in good faith support Morgan for another term.

For the primary election, The Mirror recommends voting for Rebecca Robertson or Matthew York.

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South King Fire and Rescue commissioner position 3

For South King Fire and Rescue commissioner position 3, The Mirror recommends electing J. Roger Hershey.

This year, the board of commissioners will drop one position to get back to five positions, a move that was decided in 2006 when South King and Des Moines Fire Department combined. At the time of the merger, there were three Des Moines commissioners and five South King commissioners. As positions have become available, South King has had two commissioners run for the open positions to whittle the number down to five.

Of the three candidates, Hershey is a current commissioner along with Jerry Harris. John Rickert is a former commissioner vying to get back on the board.

Any of the three candidates would make a fine commissioner. The Mirror prefers Hershey’s perspectives on the fire department’s direction. Hershey is also a more visible presence for the fire department due to his service on other regional and state commissions.

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King County executive

The Mirror recommends voting for Fred Jarrett and Ross Hunter for King County executive.

The race for county executive is eight candidates deep. Of those eight, five are serious contenders.

Jarrett and Hunter have proven their leadership through service in the state Legislature. Both candidates have also logged significant experience at two behemoth companies in the private sector. Jarrett was a longtime project manager at Boeing, while Hunter was a manager at Microsoft.

Fred Jarrett presents a solid vision for budget and transit reform. Jarrett shows an understanding of teamwork, dollars and sense when it comes to King County’s responsibilities, for which a big chunk goes toward transit. Ross Hunter conveys a similar message, along with the fearless conviction of a boss who’s willing to say no. That’s an asset in running the county, a multibillion-dollar operation. Hunter will be a tough negotiator when it comes to dealing with unions.

Two current county council members are also running for the job: Dow Constantine and Larry Phillips. Both are qualified and capable candidates, but both are also part of a county status quo in need of some fresh air.

The front-runner in this race, based on name familiarity, is former KIRO-TV news anchorwoman Susan Hutchison. She is truly the outsider candidate in this race, with excellent communication skills and a warm persona. However, Hutchison does not demonstrate sufficient relevant experience for leading King County government when compared to Jarrett and Hunter.