2006 Candidate Questionnaire
SECTION I
BASIC CANDIDATE INFORMATION
1. Name as it will appear on the ballot
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First Name |
Middle Initial or Nick Name |
Last Name |
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Stephanie |
Lynn |
Pure |
2. Office sought (include office, jurisdiction, position/district number):
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State Representative, 43rd District, Position 1 |
3. Are you the incumbent? Yes No
4. How long have you resided in this district/city?
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14 Years |
5. How long have you resided in King County?
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23 years |
6. Is the office sought partisan or nonpartisan? Partisan Nonpartisan
7. If partisan, please indicate party: Democrat
CAMPAIGN CONTACTS
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Campaign Name: |
People for Pure |
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Address: |
P.O. Box 20338 |
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City/State/Zip: |
Seattle, WA 98102 |
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Campaign Phone: |
206-652-5377 |
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Campaign Fax: |
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Campaign E-mail: |
stephanie@peopleforpure.com |
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Campaign Website: |
www.peopleforpure.com |
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POLITICAL BACKGROUND
1. Beginning with the most recent position, please list public offices which you have held. Include positions on appointive Boards or Commissions.
Public Office |
Elective or Appointive? |
Dates Held |
Leadership Role (if any) |
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Precinct Committee Officer
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Elective
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2004-Present
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2. If you ran for public office but were not elected, please list those races below:
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Office Title |
Year of Run |
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SECTION III
In this section, we are seeking responses that reflect the four ratings criteria: involvement, effectiveness, character, and knowledge. These are defined as follows:
- Involvement: What has the candidate done previously in family, neighborhood, community, volunteer work, employment or public life to suggest readiness to accomplish challenging objectives? How do these activities demonstrate readiness for the challenges unique to the office sought?
- Effectiveness: Has the candidate demonstrated promise of being productive in the office sought? Has the candidate shown the ability to work with other people?
- Character: Do the candidate's personal traits show the ability to take on the responsibilities of campaigning for and holding the public office she or he is seeking? Is the candidate a leader, participant or observer? Is the candidate trustworthy, reliable and candid?
- Knowledge: Has the candidate demonstrated the willingness and ability to learn and adapt? Does the candidate understand the duties and challenges of the office sought? Does the candidate have a firm grasp of the issues important to his or her constituency and their potential effects?
1. In a page or less, why are you running for this office? (Note: the interview committee will be given a copy of this statement before your interview; at the beginning of your interview you will have the opportunity to expand on this statement in any way you wish.)
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I am running because I feel strongly in the potential of our democracy. I want to make a positive difference in my community, and to fight cynicism. I have the vision, the energy and the experience to deliver results for our district and for Washington State.
I believe that many people, especially those in their 20s and 30s, feel left out of the political process. They often see politics as a necessary evil and not as something that they can be involved in or that can effect change in a positive way. People sometimes see politics as an endless series of meetings and a black hole of processes that ultimately leads to a bland compromise, or worse. This might contribute to the reason that only 40% of the registered voters in the 43rd District vote on a regular basis. Voter apathy isn’t a new phenomenon, but it represents untapped potential for change in our community that I want to address while in office.
From my experience as a community activist and a City Hall staffer, I know the positive difference that state and local government—in partnership with community—can make for our future. Through my volunteer work, I have increased access to arts and culture, increased access to information and understanding on local and regional issues, and increased access to our democracy. Through my work as a staffer, I have negotiated legislative processes that lead to significant funding for such priorities as libraries, health and human services, and people with disabilities.
My core values of inclusiveness and hard work, along with my legislative successes in the past spur me to be an advocate for citizens of the 43rd District on the state level. Our residents are what make our communities great and I will work with them and my colleagues in the legislature to strengthen our public education system, provide access to quality, affordable health care, and fight for fairness and equality.
We have tough, once-in-a-lifetime issues specifically facing the 43rd District. For example, the Alaskan Way Viaduct, SR 520, and Sound Transit are all key policy issues that need strong, dedicated leadership in order to see them through. I look forward to working with the community, my fellow legislators, and the Executive to ensure that these and other core priorities have the focus they deserve.
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2. Describe your most important personal characteristics or traits as they relate to the office you seek.
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1. Persistent: Good policy can sometimes take years to achieve. Working with colleagues and the community though a complex process takes a tremendous amount of time, energy and dedication. I have the persistence necessary to achieve legislative goals.
2. Collaborative: My strategy for legislative success includes collaborating with others toward a common goal. Using a “go it alone” strategy is not only limiting and often ineffective, but can even create truly unfortunate results. No one has all the answers and learning from and including others in one’s vision is crucial to long-term success. Additionally, operating in an inclusive way, rather than a “my way or the highway” approach can provide a cushion for any bumps in the road that may occur during the political process.
3. Accessible: As someone with a customer service background, I have a passion for public service and strive to make sure everyone with whom I am in contact is treated with dignity and respect. I believe a core duty of a legislator is to not only be responsive to constituents, but ensure that they have access to their own government. I look forward to working together with citizens to effect change on the issues that matter to us most.
4. Communicative: I am especially proud of the outreach efforts that I have made in my time as a community activist and City Hall staffer. I am well aware that most people are relatively unfamiliar with how their state and local government affects them and how they can become involved. I strive to reach out to a wide variety of constituencies when working on policy issues in order to have as much “buy-in” as possible. It is also vitally important to communicate effectively with your fellow colleagues in order to best manage the expectations and details of moving legislation.
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3. Please describe in sufficient detail, one to three accomplishments or contributions of which you are most proud. These examples should illustrate effective skills and capabilities you think apply to the office you are seeking. These accomplishments may have occurred at any time in your personal, professional, or public life.
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Increased Library Funding: After several years of drastic budget cuts, the Seattle City Council was greeted with a budget surplus in 2005. Yet, the Seattle Public Library system, which had suffered severe, highly-publicized cuts in previous years, did not receive the funding it needed to make up for the decreased funding of the past. On behalf of Councilmember Steinbrueck, I was able to restore $2.3 million in funding for our libraries: $1.3 million for increased hours of service and $1 million dollars for the book and resource collection.
To accomplish this, we had to make the case that increased funding the library was a priority, and that meant getting the community actively involved. While sometimes a few well-placed phone calls can make an issue rise to the top, I knew that in this case, a strong coalition had to be formed in order for the library to effectively compete against other crucial funding priorities. To motivate action, I brought to the Council members of the Library Foundation, the Library Board, the Friends of the Library—and most importantly—everyday library users to make the case that the library is a tool for those without resources to educate themselves, prepare for job-hunting, and gain valuable skills. This coalition of private donors, volunteer supporters, and library users created a formidable team that communicated with the Council effectively, despite the fact that many had never interacted with the Council in this way. As a result, more people have access to our outstanding library system, and citizens have a better understanding of how advocacy works.
Downtown Height and Density: Mayor Greg Nickels proposed a series of zoning changes in May 2005 intended to increase the height and density of downtown Seattle and the Denny Triangle. Despite a goal of creating a downtown that was “livable, walkable, 24/7”, there was little in the proposal that addressed open space, increased amenities, or suggested other ways to actually increase the livability of the downtown area.
While this issue could have been relegated to the relatively obscure arena of land use regulation, I was able to communicate the possibilities to a broader audience and, therefore, gain interest and understanding on an issue that has significant impacts to our environment and our region’s future. By talking about the importance of making downtown a place where parents would want to raise their children, a conversation about height and density zoning became a holistic discussion about sprawl, affordability, and the future of our city.
The issue received news coverage in every major media outlet in city, including television news, and, the issue spread beyond growth management advocates and environmentalists to the human services community. Hundreds packed our public hearings to give voice to the importance of keeping Seattle a place were working people can live. In the end, Councilmember Steinbrueck’s affordability goals for the legislation were met, and the Council passed measures that promoted schools, parks, and historic preservation for the downtown area.
The Vera Project: The creation of the Vera Project, an all-ages music and arts center, resulted from recognizing the lack of opportunities for young people to experience Seattle’s music scene, which is regarded as one of the most vibrant in the country. However, the Vera Project serves another purpose: to provide meaningful opportunities for leadership and to create community for young people, especially those in the underserved 18-20 age group. With my previous experience working at a fundraising consulting firm and loving local music, I became one of the founding Board Members of the Vera Project. I brought with me an understanding of how a board and a non-profit entity should operate from my experience of being a Board Member of CityClub.
Since the inception of the organization in 2001, I have helped keep the organization solvent and on mission, and I have served as one of its ambassadors to the community. The Vera Project’s budget nearly doubled during my tenure as Board President in 2003 as we grew to the successful organization we are today. By working with dedicated volunteers and helping make the case to a wide variety of supporters, the Vera Project has successfully embarked on a $1.8 million capital campaign that will help relocate the organization to the Seattle Center..
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4. Please list or describe your current and past activities in the community in which you have acquired skills that relate to the office you seek. Include your role in the activity and the year(s) in which you were involved. Involvement consists of many areas such as family, neighborhood, community, employment, or public life.
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Community Involvement
Community involvement is one of my core values and is reflected in my 10+ years of active civic engagement. The basis of my involvement is working toward equality and access for all. I was an active member of the Seattle City Council’s Music and Youth Task Force, from 1999 to 2000, which was formed to provide recommendations regarding what was known then as the “Teen Dance Ordinance”, a restrictive law enacted in the 1980s that resulted in less access to music and community for those under age 21. After an intensive, four-year community-wide effort of which I was a core part, the Teen Dance Ordinance was defeated in August of 2002.
As a result of that effort, I helped found The Vera Project in 2000, a successful non-profit music and arts center dedicated to providing access to music and dance to people of all ages, with an emphasis on serving people under the age of 21. I continue to be a Board Member of this ground-breaking organization that served over 17,000 people in 2005 by providing high-quality, safe music shows; a variety of classes (including hip-hop dance, stage lighting, silk screening, and sound engineering); and meaningful, ongoing leadership opportunities.
My civic involvement includes my long-time association with CityClub, a non-partisan non-profit organization whose mission is to foster civic engagement in vital issues that affect the Puget Sound region by providing access to civic leaders, informative programming, fair debate, and lively exchange of ideas. I recently finished my sixth year as a Board Member (2000-2006) of this vital organization. In 2005, I was Chair of CityClub’s Civic Participation Month, and I have helped organize several public forums to address homelessness and fostering leaders under age 30.
In 2005, I was chosen as one of Puget Sound Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” for my work on public policy and civic engagement.
I am a former Board Member of 33 Fainting Spells, a Seattle-based, nationally-recognized dance theater company headed by two artists, Dayna Hanson and Gaelen Hanson. 33 Fainting Spells celebrated their 10-year anniversary in 2004, and since their dissolution this year, each artist continues to challenge and excite audiences with their strong artistic vision. While on the Board, I was instrumental in assisting the organization with strategic planning and resource development.
I am currently a Precinct Committee Officer for Precinct 2852 in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, having been elected in 2004.
Related Employment
I have a wide range of both private and public sector experience that is relevant to the work of a State Legislator. As the daughter of small-business owners, I have a clear understanding of the importance of small businesses to individuals and their families, to our neighborhoods, and to our economy. I worked at my parents’ shop for six years (1988-1994), which provided me with a core value of outstanding customer service, a value that I use every day in my current position as Legislative Aide to Seattle City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck. The role of a legislative aide, in which I’ve served for six years (2000-present), is a vital, but largely invisible part of the legislative process. In this position, I have helped fund crucial priorities such as parks, health and human services, and education through the Families and Education Levy.
Prior to my work with Councilmember Steinbrueck, I worked for the World Affairs Council (1996-97) and The Alford Group (1997-2000), a national, private consulting firm specializing in fundraising and strategic planning for large non-profit organizations. My work with the Alford Group familiarized me with resource development and the Seattle not-for-profit community. Through the Alford Group, I have assisted such organizations as Atlantic Street Center, the Woodland Park Zoo, and the Group Health Foundation.
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- Please describe the duties of the office you seek. Which are the most important duties and why?
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1) Passing the budget The Legislature’s core function every session is to pass a balanced budget. This involves working with the community, staff, fellow legislators, and the Executive branch to establish and balance priorities. The passage of the legislative budget represents the key to our democracy: providing a “check and balance” over the Executive Branch.
2) Working with colleagues and the community to promote sound policy An effective legislator is willing to do the hard work of developing sound policy as well as the negotiation necessary to ensure its passage. It takes energy and tenacity to fight for the values of the district. Without doing this “heavy lifting” the public is not well-served.
3) Making government more accessible to the people Legislators must strive to work effectively with members of the community by responding to constituents in a timely way, as well as providing outreach in a variety of mediums, including e-mail, phone calls, newsletters, and public meetings. Otherwise, the legislator works in a vacuum and cannot effectively represent their district. I believe strongly in representative democracy and know that when communication breaks down between a legislator and their constituents, the legislature loses its relevance as a tool to move smart policy goals forward.
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EDUCATION BACKGROUND SUMMARY
FOR PUBLICATION IN CANDIDATE EVALUATION REPORT
The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report is distributed to voters in print and/or on our website. It includes a summary of the candidate’s education. Please summarize your education in 120 characters (letters, punctuation, and space all combined). The League will delete material that exceeds the space limit by beginning with the last entry. Suggested order is (degree) (subject) (school) (year, if desired).
Note: If this question is left blank the League will not include education information in your candidate profile.
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Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, University of Washington |
CIVIC INVOLVEMENT SUMMARY
FOR PUBLICATION IN CANDIDATE EVALUATION REPORT
The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report also includes a summary of each candidate’s civic involvement. Please summarize your civic involvement in the space below. We will make every attempt to include the information in the Candidate Evaluation Report as submitted. Due to space restrictions in the Report, your response is limited to 500 characters (letters, punctuation, and spaces all combined). It is important that you list your involvement beginning with the most important and ending with the least important. If you exceed the length of response permitted, or if the League should find it necessary to shorten responses for publication purposes, deletions will be made beginning with the last item listed.
Note: This information will appear verbatim on the League’s Candidate Evaluation Report. If this question is left blank, the Municipal League will not include information on your civic involvement in the Report.
Check here if you would like the Municipal League to copy the first 500 characters from Question 4 to paste into this section.
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Seattle City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck (2000-present) Legislative Aide
CityClub of Puget Sound (2000-2006) Former Board Member Chair of Civic Participation Month
The Vera Project (2000-present) Founding Board Member Board President Fund Development Chair
Music & Youth Task Force, Seattle City Council (1999-2000) Core Member
Seattle Works/Seattle YMCA (2005) “Get Engaged” & “Bridge” Program Trainer
43rd District Democrats (2004-present) Precinct Committee Officer
“40 Under 40” Honoree (2005) Puget Sound Business Journal
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Finished!
If at all possible, send your response to the Municipal League electronically as an attachment, or insert it into an e-mail message (cec@munileague.org). Mail and fax numbers are listed below. If the League has not contacted you to schedule an interview, please call the League office at your earliest convenience.
Don’t forget to send the following to the Municipal League: a resume, a photo, campaign literature, and, if you are an incumbent, constituent newsletter and other materials. Please use the check-off list on the cover sheet of this packet to indicate which items you have sent.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND GOOD LUCK IN YOUR CAMPAIGN!
THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE OF KING COUNTY
Candidate Evaluation Coordinator: Jennifer DiGiacomo
Seattle, WA 98104-1614 Fax: 425-671-0506 Website: www.munileague.org