City Government

When Al Runte is asked a question his demeanor is one of calm assurance that he knows the subject and exactly what he wants to say about it.

He appears exactly what he once was, a professor of history and environment at the University of Washington for much of the 1980s. Since then he has been an environmental consultant, historian and author.

Runte has never before been a politician, nor has he been an executive, yet he wants to be both by unseating strongly entrenched Mayor Greg Nickels this fall.

The Port of Seattle has lost its focus, said candidate for Port Commissioner Richard Berkowitz. He charged that the Port is focusing far too much on real estate and biotechnology, instead of maritime industry related functions.

"They (the Port of Seattle) are working from a business plan," he said.

There's been a lot of confusion and dismay in the last few weeks about the Seattle Monorail Project. It's been discussed in office hallways, in email and in coffeehouses all over the city and we've all been wrestling with the same question: What do we do next?

I would like to introduce a new group that we hope will be the answer to that question. We call ourselves 2045 Seattle.

Times/News Corespondent

Crime has increased over 25 percent in Des Moines since several police officers were laid off in 2000, Police Chief Roger Baker observed last week.

The city lost revenue in the wake of tax-limitation ballot measures that were passed by voters statewide.

"Initiative 695 was when the voters took aim at the state legislature, but the end result was they hit the city right between the eyes," stated Mayor Bob Sheckler.

I-695, also known as the "$30 License Tab Fee Initiative," which was passed in 1999, reduced motor vehicle ex

Special to the Times/News

On an absolutely gorgeous Saturday when nearly 60 busy people attended an invitational Mayor's Leadership (translate work) Summit, it just figures that something "pretty big" is brewing in Des Moines.

Mayor Bob Sheckler said he called an earlier meeting with the Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and Business Boosters to discuss ways they can work together in the economic interest of the community.

"It was during this exchange of ideas I suggested a Leadership Summit and later implemented it," he noted.

I'm reminded of those who

Property taxes in Des Moines could increase by about $105 next year on a home with an assessed valuation of $250,000.

This will happen if the city council agrees on Sept. 8 to place a proposed property tax levy lid lift on November's general election ballot and the voters approve it.

In a story published Aug.

The city of Des Moines is looking for citizens to write statements for and against a proposed property tax levy lid lift.

If endorsed by city council members, the proposed levy lid lift would appear on the Nov.

Burien City Councilman Stephen Lamphear was endorsed in his campaign for re-election by the King County Democratic Party last week.

By giving Lamphear a "sole endorsement," King County Democrats rejected former Burien Councilwoman Rose Clark's bid for a joint endorsement.

He received support from more than 75 percent of party members who voted.

Independent candidate for King County Council, District 4, Ed Pottharst, said he admits he doesn't have all the answers to the diverse transit, maintenance and education problems afflicting Ballard and other neighborhoods. But he believes that by working together with community groups and other organizations, the issues can be resolved.

"Accessibility is the key to success," he said in an interview last week.

A report on the reaction of focus groups in the North Highline area to the prospect of annexation by Burien or Seattle indicates that residents are cool to the idea.

In fact, residents were not really hot about anything except keeping the status quo, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council was told Aug.