Campaign rhetoric can sometimes distort reality.  It is happening in my race as it does in many.  I do my very best not to distort anything about my opponent.  But, I have been the victim of many attacks, insults and flagrant distortions of my public service.

On this page, I make an effort to explain the things you may have heard or read from my opponent and his supporters.

• The Isthmus -  or, that small strip of land down by the lake with the tall building on it

I am committed to working with a public/private partnership to bring “the isthmus” parcels into public ownership.  I am committed to helping that partnership create a park there.  That includes buying and destroying the tall building which stands there now.  My opponent is attempting to characterize me as the champion of high rises who doesn’t care about public sentiment.  That is not true.  Click here for details of my history with this issue.

• Capitol Lake

I want to save Capitol Lake.  I want it to be beautiful and healthy, free of invasive plants and snails.  I want the state to invest the money necessary to make that happen.  Our state legislative delegation, Sen. Fraser, Reps. Hunt and Reykdal want that too, they have sponsored a bill to require the state to manage it as a lake, not convert it to an estuary.  I support that bill and want the City Council to take a position in support of it to help get it passed.

My opponent disagrees.  He says he wants a “free flowing river” with a “reflecting pond”.  That’s not the same thing as an estuary, but it still means the dam would be removed and the lake destroyed.  His supporters have written letters to the editor saying I am supporting the lake as a “campaign gimmick”.  That is not true.  They say I won’t be able to do anything to save the lake.  Also, not true.  Olympia has influence with state government, we can advocate for the lake.  We can make resolutions as a Council supporting the lake and we can send City staff to the legislature to testify about the impacts on our waterfront businesses and Percival Landing if the dam is removed.