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2005 Seattle Elections General Elections Voters' Guide Nick Licata
Video Voters Guide Statement of Candidate Click Here to View the You will need Written Voters' Pamphlet Statement Submitted by Candidate I came to Seattle 35 years ago to attend the University of Washington -- and never left. You probably know the reasons why, they may be the same ones that keep you in Seattle. I had fallen in love with this city's great natural beauty, but something else, too. Seattle was a rare outpost where people believed that community engagement enriched their lives. As a sociology student, I had come to study community dynamics. But here you could live the experience. After two terms on the Seattle City Council, I still believe in preserving and nurturing communities. The art of politics is melding competing individual interests into a rich tapestry that all want to participate in. A vibrant, dynamic metropolitan area raises all boats together through a fair and equal distribution of resources. The core values that I had when I was an insurance broker, working as a citizen leader in the University District Community Council or the International District Rotary Club, or when I was the director of the Washington Public Interest Research Group or President of the Metropolitan Democratic Club, are the same ones that I have today as a member of the Seattle City Council. I believe that our tax dollars should be distributed fairly across the city so that no communities are ignored and all have an opportunity to prosper. That means, for example, we do not take future bus service away from neighborhoods across Seattle to subsidize just a single one-mile trolley in South Lake Union. I believe that public investments must be cost-effective -- producing the maximum benefit for the minimum public expense. That means if we fail to secure federal funding for a six-lane downtown tunnel to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct by fall of next year, we must choose the cheaper rebuild option to save local residents from a tax burden that could exceed a billion dollars. I believe that government must make decisions in a public manner so that citizens understand how the City allocates our resources. That means more than holding public hearings. Information must be shared with the public. When I informed Seattle residents how much holding the Olympic Games here would cost them, they made their voice heard loud and clear, putting an end to the proposal. By holding to fundamental democratic values, I have saved the public millions of dollars and helped Seattle protect its quality of life. The above statement was written by the candidate, who is solely responsible for the contents therein. |
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