2017 Primary Voters' Guide

Coming Soon
David Preston

Pragmatism and common sense have gone out of style at City Hall. I'll bring them back in.

 

Growing Pains. Seattle's been my home for 30 years, and in that time the city has grown phenomenally. Unfortunately, infrastructure hasn't kept up. Developers tear down our livable, affordable neighborhoods and throw up garish high-rises with no parking. That's great for wealthy tech workers, but what about the rest of us? Long-time residents are fleeing Seattle for more livable suburbs while homeless camps proliferate in our parks and greenbelts. Taxes go up relentlessly, but where does the money go?

 

Social Justice Warriors. The City Council has done little to address real problems, concerning itself instead with social causes. Transgender bathrooms? -No. We should be focusing on affordability and heroin addiction. Climate change? -No. We need to address traffic congestion. The Council's response to homelessness was to lift the ban on camping in parks. Their answer to the heroin epidemic? -Give addicts a "safe" place to shoot up. When their absurd schemes fail, they blame Donald Trump or rich people. This isn't a government. It's a unicorn ranch.

 

Changing Up. The City Council has been captured by interest groups and radical ideologues. To move forward, we've got to set these divisive forces aside and restore a sense of unity and balance to our government. As a councilmember, I will stand up to the radicals and protesters. I will insist on transparent government and oppose new taxes until we have accountability for money the city is taking from us now. I've been writing about fraud and waste in government for years (see roominate.com/blog) so I know just where the rot is and how to fix it.

 

Pragmatic Solutions. I'll get to work on homelessness and addiction first. We need to get homeless people into housing and drug-treatment programs. No more camping in parks. The next task is to create more affordable housing. Real estate developers have been writing our land-use policies, and that needs to stop. I'll require developers to pay more for infrastructure improvements and create more low- and middle-income housing. I'll end the demonization of landlords and will make it easier for homeowners to add mother-in-law units. Mayor Murray damaged the City's relationship with neighborhoods. I will rebuild it and get neighborhood groups-and ALL the people-back into City Hall. Thanks for your vote, Seattle!

Contact:
(206) 310-5177