Clyde Hill News: 2023 candidate endorsement edition
Residents can expects ballots in the mail this week
This week, an update about candidate endorsements in the upcoming Clyde Hill election. King County Elections sent out ballots this week:
Apologies for the delay in publishing this week’s newsletter; east coast travel, illness, and the world being on fire set me back.
Also: a warm welcome to new readers! If someone forwarded you this newsletter, subscribing is free and easy!
Disclaimer: while I am a councilmember on the Clyde Hill City Council, I write this newsletter in my capacity as an individual resident. Any opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily the position of the city. City information and references here are from public sources. I welcome email responses — and if the topic is about city business I will respond from my city email account.
Context
For context, the purpose here is to provide voters and the community with the latest and most up-to-date information about candidate endorsements.
Some candidates asked me to send an update about the endorsements they received since last month’s ‘Candidate statement edition’ (link). I wrote to all the candidates to get an up-to-date list in one place.
Short version and full version
The candidates interpreted the request in different ways. Some shared only (a) organizations and (b) current (or former) elected (or appointed) officials as “endorsements.” Other candidates included individual and personal supporters as well.
Below you will find the “full version” with links to the original emails I got from candidates as well as a “short version” that focuses on organizations and officials.
There were many emails, some tense, between my initial request to candidates and this newsletter. For example, one candidate chose to withdraw their submission in response to my initial plan to include only the “short version.”1 Another candidate offered reasoned and strong disagreement that made sense to me. I agreed to include the full versions.
This leaves two candidates (Sinwell, Kroese) at a disadvantage because they interpreted the request narrowly (“professional v personal”) and did not have the opportunity to solicit individual endorsements. I am sending the newsletter out as is because ballots are in the mail and I think the information below, while flawed, is still useful to voters. Please keep this in mind as you read and make your assessment as a voter.
Conflicts of interest?
Some residents have asked candidates about conflicts of interest. For example, does accepting a campaign contribution from the city’s negotiator with the police union, or an endorsement from a police union, represent a potential conflict of interest?
The gist of the answer I’ve gotten, deferring to MRSC (link) and Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission (link), is “no.” As with most things involving the public interest, there is a process to work through.
There is already one PDC complaint against a Clyde Hill candidate this election cycle (link). It’s possible there will be more. For reference, there were complaints filed against the current mayor as well as against me over the last two years.
Short version
Mayor
Steve Friedman
The union that represents Clyde Hill’s police officers (Teamsters #763)
Katy Harris, current Mayor of Yarrow Point
Council Seat 2
Ashley Eckel
The following endorsements are available on a public website:2
Marianne Klaas, current Mayor of Clyde Hill
Bruce J. Dodds, former councilmember
Steve Sinwell
The union that represents Clyde Hill’s police officers (Teamsters #763)
Steve Friedman, current councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem
Kim Muromoto, current councilmember, former Mayor Pro Tem
Brian Ouellete, current chair of Clyde Hill’s Civil Service Commission
Katy Harris, current Mayor of Yarrow Point
Council Seat 4
Mark Kroese
Clyde Hill’s Mercia Home Owners Association
Steve Friedman, current councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem
Kim Muromoto, current councilmember, former Mayor Pro Tem
Scott Moore, former councilmember
JB Williams, current member of Clyde Hill’s Civil Service Commission
Katy Harris, current Mayor of Yarrow Point
Reuven Carlyle, former Washington State Senator
Ryan Olson
Bruce J. Dodds, former councilmember
Full version
You can read the original mails from candidates here as well as the mail withdrawing the submission (link).
Steve Friedman
No additional endorsements.
Ashley Eckel
This candidate withdrew her submission. If she grants permission, her original and complete submission will be available here (link).
Steve Sinwell
In addition to what’s above, his original submission included the following:
Supporters - too many to list, but here is a sample of five that reside in different regions of Clyde Hill:
Pam & Charles Philips
Tina & Mark Alexieff
Jessica & Edwin Tian
Tony & Sonja Prata and their Golden Retriever, "Thor"
Spencer Hamlin
Mark Kroese
In addition to what’s above, his original submission included the following:
Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft
Ryan Olson
In addition to what’s above, his original submission included the following:
I’m proud to have endorsements from residents who care about the future of our city and know I will work tirelessly to protect Clyde Hill.
Bruce Dodds, 4-term Clyde Hill City Councilmember
I endorse Ryan Olson for council position 4 knowing his continuing service with the city government, his knowledge of city codes and finances, and his professional background make him by far the most qualified to serve the best interests of Clyde Hill's citizens.
Dan and Caren Hazen
Given his 20 plus years of local real estate experience and his recent three years of service on the City Planning Board, we endorse Ryan knowing he will continue to serve the citizens of Clyde Hill well.
Greg Roe, Clyde Hill Resident
Ryan is a long-term resident who raised his family here and continues to be concerned and protective of where Clyde Hill is heading… Ryan Olson is the one with proven experience to work for us.
Susan R. Baldwin
I am endorsing Ryan Olson for City Council. Ryan has shown his interest in our community by serving on the Planning Commission for 3 years and lending his much-needed real estate expertise. He is selfless and has NO PERSONAL AGENDA…
Lyn Adams, Clyde Hill Resident since 1964
Ryan is a Clyde Hill born and raised resident; possesses knowledge and history of our city, he is well engaged in the ongoing solutions for current day issues, and has the vision for preservation and safeguarding what’s to come.
Cabot and Linda Dow
[Ryan] will be a unifying force and solid supporter of public safety, balanced budget, and residential land use priorities our residents expect from our City officials.
R.C. “Bob” Wallace, CEO, Wallace Properties, Inc.
I have known Ryan Olson for more than twenty-five years, both professionally and personally. I know he has the integrity, personality, experience and wisdom to be an outstanding Councilmember.
Kelly and John Olerud
Tina Pappas
Jeff and Terri Forsberg
Scott Coombs
Nick Madonna
Gerry Becker
Phil Bivens
Jeff and Sun Chaney
John and Alischia Besteman
Mike Foley
Ian and Julie Olsen
Bensen and Julia Porter
Jill Zimmerman
Thank you for reading! Please forward and share with your friends and neighbors, and if you are not already getting this newsletter, subscribing is both easy and free.
Dean Hachamovitch
Because individual and personal supporters are not typically included as endorsements in voter’s pamphlets or news media coverage, my initial plan was to not include them.
After I sent the clarification to candidates about endorsements and supporters, Ashley Eckel wrote “I withdraw my entire endorsement submission.”