Election Center 2009
Welcome to The Melon’s 2009 Election Center, where you’ll find a full list of candidates interviewed by The Melon as well election focused pieces and additional interviews by Melon contributors.
Articles
Eight Years Is Enough – Reject Amendment 1 by New Takhoman
My Positions 2009 by Chris Van Vechten
Interview with Paul Jacob, Krist Novoselic and Kelly Haughton on RCV and Reject All Three
Races (√scroll down for Melon interview)
Mayor
√Jim Merritt – http://www.merrittformayor.com/
√Marilyn Strickland – http://www.stricklandformayor.com/
City Council District 2 (North End & North East)
√Jake Fey (incumbent)
City Council District 4 (East Side)
√Marty Campbell – www.electcampbell.org
√Roxanne Murphy – http://www.electroxanne.com
City Council District 5 (South End)
√Beckie Summers-Kirby – www.beckiesummerskirby.com
√Joe Lonergan – www.joelonergan.com
City Council Position 6 (at-large)
√Keven Rojecki – blog.rojeckifortacoma.com
√Victoria Woodards – http://woodards4tacomacitycouncil.blogspot.com/
School Board Position 2
√Catherine Ushka-Hall – http://votecatherine.com/
√Jerry Thorpe
School Board Position 4
√Kurt Miller
√Stan Smith
Tacoma Mayoral Race
Jim Merritt
Yup, Jim Merritt of Merritt Arch PLLC is running for Mayor of Tacoma in November. Merritt is known to Tacomans as a community activist who has sat on numerous local committees and boards including the Hillside development council and the Downtown Area Revitalization Task Force (DART).
Now, Jim has set his sights on developing the city of Tacoma as Mayor. He announced his candidacy in January of this year and is working on a campaign of uniting the city.
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Marilyn Strickland
City Council Member Marilyn Strickland has joined the race for Mayor of Tacoma. The former Starbucks marketing manager and Tacoma Public Library development officer turned City Council Member since 2008 is looking for your vote come November. Strickland has proclaimed a deep appreciation for the city of Tacoma and a desire to see it progress by bringing in new businesses and developing spaces downtown.
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Tacoma City Council Dist 2
Chris Van Vechten sits downs with City Council incumbent Jake Fey to discuss his time on the Council and his unopposed reelection campaign.
Learn more about Jake at jakefey.com.
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Tacoma City Council Dist 4
Marty Campbell
You know Buzzards and Stadium Video? Of course you do. Well the manager of both, Marty Campbell, is running for City Council. It seems Marty lives double lives, one managing these businesses and one as a dedicated community member serving on numerous boards including the Tacoma Neighborhood Council, Downtown Merchants Group and the Grand Cinema board.
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Roxanne Murphy
East-Side activist and former City of Tacoma Community Relations Specialist Roxanne Murphy is running for City Council. After moving to the East Side of Tacoma six years ago, Roxanne has be adamant about making change. Her goals as a City Council member would be to reduce crime and develop a more thriving business district on the East Side.
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Note: Due to unforeseen gremlins there is an unfortunate buzzing in the background of this recording. Our sincerest apologies. We recommend turning down your bass.
Tacoma City Council Pos. 5
Beckie Summers-Kirby
Beckie Summers-Kirby intends to “hit the ground running” if elected to City Council. Having served on the Tacoma Human Rights Commission, the Tacoma Civil Service Board, the Tacoma Public Library Board of Trustees and the Pierce County Charter Review Commission, Beckie hopes to bring accountability to the City Council and find new ways to make the voices of Tacomans heard.
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Joe Lonergan
Joe Lonergan is a lifelong resident of Tacoma hoping to offer the City Council the right equation to combat gang violence and clean up our town. He believes that by fixing our streets we can bring in more businesses and create more opportunities for the arts. Currently residing in the 5th district, Joe believes “almost anything is possible when good people come together with good leadership.”
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Tacoma City Council Pos. 6 (At Large)
Victoria Woodards
Victoria has been a member of the Metro Parks board since 2004 and is the current board President.
She is running on a platform of creating opportunities for families and businesses, maintaining infrastructure and making our city government more responsive and efficient.
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Keven Rojecki
Firefighter and Vice Chair of the Washington State Gambling Commission, Keven Rojecki is hoping to change to face of Tacoma. He hopes to “make our city a better place for my children and future generations.”
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School Board Position 2
Jerry Thorpe
Jerry Thorpe is one of two candidates running for Connie Rickman’s seat in the Tacoma School Board. With a history as a teacher and Port Commissioner, Jerry Thorpe wants to see Tacoma schools to start refocusing on serious education.
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Catherine Ushka-Hall
With a long list of experience working with youth and community development, Catherine Ushka-Hall is looking to tackle the big issues facing our schools. Catherine intends to use her organizational and management experience to help advance our school system.
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For more information visit: http://votecatherine.com/
School Board Position 4
Kurt Miller
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Stan Smith
Stan Smith wants the Tacoma School Board to be engaged and accountable. His hope is that “every child enrolled in the Tacoma School District is entitled to a quality education.”
Chris Van Vechten sat down with Stan, to discuss his vision and platforms.
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