My name is Kate Martin.
I'm a planning and design consultant
and an affordable housing provider.
I know we agree that Seattle needs better government
and that is why I'm challenging the incumbent
and the status quo.
As pressing problems go unsolved
while bigger and bigger budgets are consumed,
my heart breaks. This is my town for 42 years.
I raised my family here,
have my business here,
and have worked shoulder to shoulder with fellow volunteers
from one end of this city to the other for decades.
It's clear that things are actually getting worse.
Homelessness, support for the mentally ill
and addicted, public safety, and affordable housing
are all crises.
We, the taxpayers, are doing our part,
voting for higher taxes with the promise it will help.
But those promises have been broken.
Why does the council keep failing?
Why do we, the voters, accept these failures?
I see a few answers.
First, democracy is under attack in our city.
Special interest power is too great, and elections
have become squabbles between the city's most powerful groups.
We must fully recognize the district-level democracy
we voted for in 2013.
District-level plans
and electing district council members to shepherd
those plans will make all of the difference.
Second, there's too little intellectual
and professional diversity on the council.
Today, it's an echo chamber
that can't even notice it's failing.
I'll bring debate, professional problem-solving skills,
and a focus on proven solutions.
Seattle's history is great,
and it wasn't that long ago that we were safer,
healthier, and better housed.
While we can't fix these problems overnight,
it's time we recompose the council
to get Seattle on track.
Please visit electkatemartin.com
and theseattlejournal.com to learn more.
I ask for your vote and truly cannot wait to serve you
as the next Position 8 Seattle City Council member.
Thank you for your consideration.