Elect Pam Fernald 2009

Oct 1

Professional Fire Fighters Local 2919 council candidate endorsements

After interviewing with the Professional Fire Fighters Local 2919 officers a month ago, and after numerous emails and voice mails to find out if Tony Anderson had been endorsed (because he had been putting up signs that he WAS endorsed long before the official announcement was made yesterday) I finally received an answer with a phone call yesterday and an email today. See email below:

—– Original Message —– From: John Gallup To: ccp2seatac@forschler.org ; mtkseatac2009@earthlink.net ; pamlf@comcast.net Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2009 5:17 AM Subject: Fire Fighter Endorsements
The SeaTac Fire Fighters have made their endorsements for the 2009 elections. We appreciate all the candidates meeting with us and we were glad to see so much excitement regarding the election. Regardless of the outcome, the Fire Fighters look forward to working with those elected.

We have endorsed;

Tony Anderson, Barry Ladenburg and Jonathan Standridge.

Good luck to all the candidates.

John Gallup

253-370-3080

jdgiv@harbornet.com

MY REPLY TO JOHN GALLUP:

Thank you John. I imagine this email is the endorsement notification ‘letter’ you told me last night on the phone that you would be sending to candidates? I appreciate you stating that “ Regardless of the outcome, the Fire Fighters look forward to working with those elected.” I feel the same way.

Regardless of the (election) outcome, I look forward to the fire fighters promoting an educational program in the community at large and in the schools. From what I observed just from working with victims of the Emerald Place Apartments fire, I would say that much needed life saving fire safety education is currently lacking in SeaTac. Best place to start is with the children in the schools. I will promote this in SeaTac.

Regardless of the (election) outcome, as a citizen, I urge the professional fire fighters to stick to the job they are paid by the taxpayers to do– fire fighting and emergency response–and leave SeaTac city politics to the people who live in SeaTac, pay taxes here and have a vote here. I will promote this in SeaTac.

Regardless of the (election) outcome, when/if our fire districts become regionalized, departments will share equipment (aside from our current mutual aide agreements) and the taxpayers really won’t need to fund a ladder truck in SeaTac. In addition, multi story buildings should be equipped with sprinkler systems which would go a very long way to keeping occupants safe, sans a ladder truck. I will promote this in SeaTac.

Regardless of the (election) outcome, I believe in transparency in all areas of city government, including fire station cost over runs and the State Auditor’s report on the building of the new fire station. I will promote that in SeaTac.

Many citizens, including myself, think of Fire Fighters as heros for the job they do for us. They do a great job as employees of our fine City, but I don’t think they should be meddling in our City politics. The Fire fighters, except for one or two, do not live in SeaTac and cannot vote here.

They are Union represented, well paid, have a brand new rescue boat to use at Angle Lake, a brand new, earthquake proof fire station on 170th, and I guess I understand why they would want to endorse candidates who agree with the Fire Fighters that they should have a new ladder truck also.

The Fire Fighters are convinced that having an elected Mayor will have a negative impact on them. If their want list is legitimate, I can’t see how an elected Mayor would keep them from having what they need anymore than a City Manager would.

Personally I’m not bothered by not being endorsed by the Fire Fighters. At least no one will have to wonder what kind of a deal I made to pick up an endorsement.

State auditors findings – new SeaTac fire station http://www.sao.wa.gov/AuditReports/AuditReportFiles/ar1002282.pdf http://www.sao.wa.gov/findings/1002282.pdf http://www.sao.wa.gov/AuditReports/AuditReportFiles/ar1002283.pdf

SeaTac Budget – 2009 http://www.ci.seatac.wa.us/edocument/2009budget.pdf

Regards,

Pam Fernald
Candidate – SeaTac City Council Pos. 6

Visit my campaign site at:
http://blog.electfernald2009.org/welcome/

Sep 14

Who will get your vote for Position #6

Are you concerned about the safety, health and vibrancy of the SeaTac community in which you make your home?

Yes No

Do you believe that there should be equal enforcement of SeaTac laws and ordinances?

Yes No

Do you believe that the City Council should dutifully work to serve the interests and needs of the citizens who live and pay taxes in the community it has been elected to represent?

Yes No

Does it seem that your elected representatives are out of touch with what is important and of value to you?

Yes No

Do you ever feel that your elected representatives on the current City Council are running roughshod over your individual liberties?

Yes No

Do you think it is important that your elected representatives act in good faith and provide honest public disclosure and transparency with regard to the decisions they make for you?

Yes No

If you answered Yes to any of these questions then VOTE for Pam Fernald for SeaTac City Council Position #6

Whatever the outcome of this November election, here is a short list of items that are on my radar and I intend to work on:

Change the identity of the position which runs the City Council to be known in the future as the ‘Council Chairman’ or ‘Council President’ rather than ‘Mayor.’

While gathering signatures for the Change of Government petition, one of the biggest confusions was that citizens thought SeaTac already has an elected Mayor. Nope– Ceremonial only. When the Elected Mayor Prop 1 passes in November, the Mayor position in SeaTac should clear up, but the head of the council will still need a new label.

~~~~~~~~~~

I will look into the creation of districts or wards within SeaTac so that each and every one of those districts has an assigned council member and citizens will know which council representative to contact if they have problems.

Currently 5 of our council members reside in the same neighborhood, and it would be maximal to have them individually assigned to specific districts so citizens have a firmer feeling of representation in the city.

~~~~~~~~~~

I would like to establish a Student Citizen Advisory Committee to meet monthly as our other Citizen Advisory Committees do. I would like to officially hear from some of our future city leaders about what they think is going on in SeaTac and any solutions they have.

~~~~~~~~~~

I would like to see a more user friendly, intuitive City Website. Some subjects are so imbedded on the website that a citizen may not find what they are looking for and therefore not use the website as the helping tool it should be. I heard a year ago that it was going to be revamped—it is past time for a better city website.

~~~~~~~~~~

Code Enforcement issues are always a hot topic. I’d like to see a Code Enforcement Task Force blanket the community and resolve the most long running and egregious cases so that neighbors can have some peace, and the two Code Enforcement officers that we have in SeaTac could get a little ‘ahead of the game’ on the big issues.

~~~~~~~~~~

I will campaign for fire safety education in our SEaTac schools and communities. Fire safety training is at least as important in our City as classes on how to raise backyard chickens.

~~~~~~~~~~

At LUP meetings I hear talk of an Ombudsman. This is something I would like to look into and see where/if it might better serve the citizens.

~~~~~~~~~~

SeaTac is 20 years old and growing. We have much to look forward to.

Let’s get busy.

scan0002