Incumbents Face Off Against Gov. Watch Candidates in LFP

Lake Forest Park mayoral candidates Dwight Thompson and Mary Jane Goss debated the city budget and gave reasons why they should be the one to lead the city for the next four years at a forum Tuesday in front of a crowd of 200-plus at Third Place Commons.

Candidates handed out literature before the event as did LFP Gov Watch, a political committee that emerged out of the opposition to the Prop. 1 levy lid lift. Gov. Watch’s four endorsed candidates, Mary Jane Goss, Brian Cathcart, Jeff Johnson and Tom French are running to unseat current Councilmembers except for Johnson.

The mayoral candidates, who are vying for the $36,000 a year position in a strong mayor city, were the final pairing of the evening in the forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County and Third Place Commons.

Goss held a small edge back in the August primary, but the race is expected to be tight leading up to Nov. 8 general election.

Goss, who served on the Lake Forest Park City Council from 1998 to 2005, put emphasis on her accounting background and plans to prioritize what citizens want while making cuts.

“My passion is restoring trust in our city government,” Goss said. “I would like nothing more than to work with you to incorporate your needs, goals and dreams for our community.”

Thompson, the current deputy mayor, emphasized his fiscal and administrative experience, and mentioned his deployment to Afghanistan as a Army Reservist where he managed a medical task force to get injured troops home with scarce resources. He also talked about his ability to work collaboratively on the Council.

In response to a question about tapping the city’s reserve fund, Goss said it’s “not prudent” to expand into your reserves.

Thompson said the city has $5 million reserves now in various accounts, compared to $5,000 when he first took office in 1996.

In response to questions about city employees’ compensation, Thompson said, Lake Forest Park employees make 13 percent less than comparable cities of a similar size in the state of Washington. Lake Forest Park police make $1,000 less a month than police in Kenmore and Shoreline, he said.

Goss said, “These are different times,” and said prior to 2008 the city had money to spend, now it does not and the city budget doesn’t make sense.

Goss said she doesn’t want city employees to lose their jobs but at the same time some city residents have been unemployed for three years.

Thompson said salaries need to be kept where they are for the next couple years and that the city should look at the share employees pay in health care.

Thompson said $10,000 per year being spent on the Web site will make it more user friendly and allow residents to pay their sewer bill online. 

The final question asked what special qualities the candidates had to bring a disparate Council around to consensus.

“Right now I don’t see a disparate Council,” Goss said. “I see a lot of yes’s all the time. I don’t see a lot of analytical or critical thinking.”

“Getting seven to agree is going to be a different story,” she said. “I come from a space where I think that diversity of opinion is not a bad thing. It creates a spark that gets the creative juices flowing.”

Thompson said 7-0 votes don’t mean that the Council doesn’t have its differences.

“Don’t ever think that on the City Council that if all seven of us are voting one way that we don’t have disparity of opinion,” he said. “It takes a lot of work to come to consensus with seven people. And it’s a give and take. For example, the Tree canopy ordinance, sensitive areas ordinance, the southern Gateway study.”

City Council Position 2, Incumbent Catherine Stanford vs. Brian Cathcart

Cathcart, the challenger, is head of business development of Smart Portfolios in Lake Forest Park a company that does math-based risk analysis and management in regard to investments. He emphasized his experience going over balance sheets and income cash flow statements.

He said he’s reviewed the last several years of budgets and said Lake Forest Park needs an easier to understand financial format for its budgets like Shoreline.

“I firmly believe the budget can be balanced and there’s not a need for a tax increase to accomplish this,” Cathcart said. “I believe a tax increase only increases the burden on seniors and young families.”

He said he believed the Council has made too many short-term decisions, “that have not served us well,” and said a change was needed because the current Council is “captive to their experience.”

Stanford, a former LFP planning commissioner and board member at Third Place Commons, mentioned her background in managing real estate at Pike Place Market, which gave her experience dealing with a municipal type budget. She emphasized that private sector budgets are different than public sector budgets. Stanford also stated that the Council made $1.7 million in budget cuts during her term.

In response to questions about transparency,

Stanford suggested doing town halls on a regular basis.

Cathcart suggested bringing cameras into the Council Chambers and posting agendas more in advance. He also believes executive session is used too often.

Both Cathcart and Stanford oppose the proposed roundabout at Brookside Blvd. and 178th St.

Cathcart said he opposed drawing from the reserves to deal with a shortfall on the City Hall bond and wanted to make cost reductions instead. Stanford also did not support drawing on reserves and proposed looking at city salaries to make sure they are in line with similar cities.

Both Cathcart and Stanford said they support funding for Third Place Commons, the senior center and after school program at Kellogg Middle School.

Neither favored having the King County Sheriff’s Office contract for police service in Lake Forest Park.

City Council Position 4, Jeff Johnson vs. Chuck Paulsen

Political newcomer Jeff Johnson, 50, a 28-year resident of LFP, is owner of Johnson’s Auto Repair in Seattle where he’s worked 40 hours a week since he was 14. 
“I’m somebody that likes to get things done,” he said. “I don’t like to see big stacks of paper and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on stuff that doesn’t get done. I want to work for you because you guys are the employer, I’m the employee.”

Paulsen, 50, emphasized three things about his campaign: his experience, concern for public safety and need for fiscal responsibility. Paulsen currently serves on the Planning Commission and the Legacy Task Force, which develops a 100-year vision for the city.

“We need to stop attacking, blaming and scaring each other, and roll up our sleeves and work together and be responsible with our budget,” Paulsen said. “Saying no each time has a cost we have to mindful of the consequences of saying no.”

Paulsen, who supported Prop. 1, which failed by 78-22 percent, last year said he did so to support youth services, senior services, road maintenance and safety.

But, “the people of this community have spoken,” he said. “You are the bosses. That’s done. Time to move on.

Johnson opposed Prop. 1.

“I thought it was a kick in the face to everyone in LFP, I don’t know why it was brought up,” Johnson said. “It’s like me raising my hourly rate because business is slow.”

“Everyone’s doom and gloom about the budget. It’s not that bad, folks, we’re going to survive we have great people and a great city,” Johnson said. “We’re going to have to look at the budget and everything that comes in. It’s not going to be easy but it’s not the end of the world.”

Neither supported the roundabout at 178th St. and Brookside.

Both favored bringing back the paper Town Crier.

Paulsen favored town hall meetings and coffees to get feedback from people.

Johnson said taking feedback is great but only does any good if people feel they are being listened to.

Both supported cameras in Council Chambers to broadcast meetings.

In response to a question about bringing income into the city, and making cuts, Paulsen mentioned grant writing and diversifying and commercial tax base by bringing in development in areas such as southern Gateway to commercial tax base.  In terms of cuts, Paulsen mentioned prioritizing budget items.

Johnson proposed rezoning neighborhoods so corner stores could open up. Half-joking he said City Hall could be turned into a breakfast restaurant.

“We have to change ourselves a little bit to encourage businesses to be in Lake Forest Park and not outside. We need to bring people here and bring jobs here,” he said.

City Council Position 6, Incumbent Ed Sterner vs. Tom French

Sterner, a lawyer, started off by emphasizing his involvement in the community and his work on issues such as low-income housing, human services and youth violence and drug use.

French, a strategic management consultant for technology companies, said he believed the city is not in dire straits but there are serious problems that need to be addressed.

He said he believes the City Council is not receptive to listening to the community about what needs to be prioritized.

French does not believe the police force should be contracted out to King County.

Sterner said the cost is still lower if LFP provides the police service.

In reponse to the question about pay and benefits for city staff, Sterner said, “we don’t have a whole lot of lower paid people, it’s mostly skilled folk.” The police department is paid 5 to 10 percent less than neighboring cities.

French said salaries need to be examined and an $101,000 average package is high for the tech world. Sterner said staffing levels in the finance department are at a minimum, according to the state auditor’s office. ED

French said he’d cut $30,000 to redevelop the city Web site.

“I’m not a big believer in cutting people’s jobs but finding efficiencies,” French said. “I’m optimistic, I believe the economy is going to get better. We need to make sure elected officials are taking a closer look to be efficient.”

French said more clarity in communication is needed with citizens and recommended bringing back the print Town Crier and said yes to cameras to broadcast Council meetings.

Sterner supported cameras at meetings and noted that he gives out his home number to the public.

French supported more coffees and open houses and having the Council hold meetings on the floor of the chambers instead of the dais.

Sterner favored moving some Council meetings to Third Place Commons.