Karol Brown Vs. Jared Nieuwenhuis: Bellevue Council Candidate Questionnaire

BELLEVUE, WA - In late September, Patch sent questionnaires to candidates running in local elections. We asked a mix of questions so you could get a better idea of who you might like to vote for. Here are the answers position 4 City Council candidates Karol Brown and Jared Nieuwenhuis gave us:

Karol Brown

Why did you decide to run for this seat? For incumbent candidates, what made you decide to run for reelection?

I decided to run for the Bellevue City Council because I want to make a difference in my community. I believe that together we can build a better Bellevue. Our city can support world-class schools, a thriving economy, affordable housing and transportation, and an accepting community. We need a City Council to put people first, and bring people together to solve real problems. I was greatly disappointed by last year’s election of Donald Trump. I believe the most powerful form of resistance begins at home, right here in the community where we live and work. No matter what happens in Washington D.C., we can and must work together to build the kind of city where everyone can thrive. A city that welcomes all who want to live here and that embodies our progressive values. I want Bellevue to use its resources to take care of people, protect the environment, and foster businesses that create opportunities and drive economic growth.

If you could snap your fingers and have it done, what’s one thing you would fix or change about your city?

If I could change anything, I would improve access to public transit in Bellevue. Bellevue, and the Eastside more broadly, needs the light rail to be completed and better bus services. Too many of our city’s residents live more than one mile from the nearest bus stop, and buses come too infrequently. I am committed to advocating for more bus routes to ensure our residents can get to work and school and social occasions – safely, quickly, and affordably. I would also add new bus access lanes and prioritize traffic signals to move people faster and easier throughout the city. We should also try to strengthen our city’s regional partnerships to connect Bellevue transit routes with those of neighboring cities and build a stronger network of transit on the Eastside.

What’s the most prominent issue facing your city right now and what can you do about it?

I believe that the most prominent issue facing Bellevue is the lack of affordable housing. Housing prices in Bellevue have increased by 16% just in the last year. As a Bellevue City Council member, I will act to ensure that our city’s families and seniors can continue to afford to live and work in Bellevue. We must work to increase our housing stock by encouraging the building of affordable housing, especially near transit hubs, so that new residents have easier access to transportation. I will expand property tax breaks for senior citizens to help them stay in their homes. I will work to ensure developers pay their fair share into an affordable housing fund aimed at building and retaining affordable rental units. Finally, I will advocate to create more family-wage jobs in Bellevue so those who work here can also afford to live here.

Assuming the city you live in is your favorite in the state, what’s your second favorite city in Washington state and why?

My second-favorite city in Washington (behind Bellevue) is my hometown of Federal Way. I grew up in Federal Way, and watched it change from a rural/suburban community to a thriving city. For most of my childhood, Federal Way hadn’t incorporated and I saw first-hand the impact of uncontrolled growth and ineffective management of the city’s infrastructure. But mostly, I love the city because my mother still lives in the house where we moved when I was three years old, in the neighborhood where many of the residents are still the same.

Do you think the city budget is in decent shape? Why or why not?

Bellevue has managed its budget very well and financially is in good shape. Bellevue uses a unique “Budget One” process to ensure that our government services are provided in an effective and efficient manner. Our budget also reflects our values and our priorities as a community. We have been blessed with a thriving economy and an enviable tax base, and have been able to keep our tax rates one of the lowest in the region. We have been fiscally conservative in our budget process, anticipating a possible downturn in the economy which hasn’t happened. This means that we are adding to our reserve funds just in case. Our city’s finances are well-managed.

If you could pick one thing for the city to stop spending money on, what would it be?

I can’t think of anything that we are currently spending on that is a waste of money, but I’m open.

If you could increase spending on one thing, what would it be?

I would like to increase spending on public engagement and outreach. I believe that we can do more to increase accountability and transparency as a city government. I would like Bellevue to sponsor community town halls in different neighborhoods where we can have conversations about what our city government is doing and allow people to voice their concerns. We should involve all aspects of the city, from Council members to neighborhood activists, to come together to collaborate and solve problems and address issues of concern.

King County is planning to open a safe-injection site somewhere in the county. Do you think providing a safe-injection site will help reduce overdose deaths? Do you support one in your city? Why or why not?

I do not believe that Bellevue should be a location for a safe injection site. King County Public Health experts have suggested these sites as a way of preventing harm and reducing deaths from the opioid addiction crisis that has been rampant in the United States. King County has proposed two sites, and Seattle has already agreed to have one in their city limits. The county will not put a site in any city that does not approve of it. Our city council voted on October 16 to permanently ban these sites in the city limits. I believe that we must focus on treatment to combat addiction. We should also develop diversionary tactics with our police department and court system to ensure that we are offering people an opportunity to get treatment services to help them fight their addiction.

In your free time, what’s your favorite thing to do locally?

I love to go walking in Bellevue’s Downtown Park. My son and I often meet there to walk the circuit, catch up on our lives, and play a little Pokemon Go. I also go to the Lincoln Square Cinema, where my son works, and watch a movie late at night, when I can’t phone or doorbell any voters! Late nights are the only real free time I have had in the last several months.

When you go to a coffee shop, what drink do you usually get?

Lately, I’ve been getting a pumpkin spice latte with four shots of espresso. The extra shots of caffeine help me keep going, so that I can reach the voters I need to talk to before the election!

Jared Nieuwenhuis

Why did you decide to run for this seat? For incumbent candidates, what made you decide to run for reelection?

I’m the son of Dutch immigrants who eventually made their way to the greater Seattle area. I am a first-generation American who understands the immigrant experience. My parents showed me the importance of having a strong work ethic as well as a dedication to family and community. I’m the proud son of immigrants who wants to give back to his community that has given me so much.

I’m running for Bellevue City Council because I believe in what I call “The Bellevue Way.” A proactive, pragmatic and sensible approach to the issues that face our city with essential and substantial citizen involvement and input.

I have lived in Bellevue for 16+ years. I’m married to an amazing wife, who with our 2 1/2-year-old daughter, reside in the Lake Hills area.

I proudly serve on the Parks & Community Services Board for the City of Bellevue. I am a community volunteer who has served on numerous non-profit boards, including LifeWire – a domestic violence prevention organization, The Sophia Way – a non-profit that assists women experiencing homelessness, the Lake Hills Neighborhood Association, chair of the public affairs committee at the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, and many more.

I’m a businessman in the technology sector who wants to see Bellevue’s economy continue to grow and thrive. I understand what innovative tech companies want and need to attract the best and brightest employees to our tech-centric city.

Most importantly, I am an informed, engaged, compassionate and independent leader who actively listens, interacts with his community, works to effect change and would represent all residents of this great city. I believe that we need to protect the character of our single-family neighborhoods and seek to find ways to reduce neighborhood crime and improve emergency response services to keep our community safe.

My record of civic leadership and volunteer activity throughout the community and region make me uniquely qualified to serve as a council member. I’m prepared to work collaboratively with other councilmembers on behalf of the residents of Bellevue, to improve the lives of all Bellevue residents while still being fiscally responsible.

I know the value of teamwork and believe as a community we need to work together towards an even brighter future to live, work and play in Bellevue. I will bring this optimism, determination and dedication to the City Council.

If you could snap your fingers and have it done, what’s one thing you would fix or change about your city?

Homelessness has unfortunately become the divisive political object in Bellevue. As an advocate for the homeless, I believe we must act but we must do so with engagement from our neighborhoods and make them part of the process for siting homeless shelters. This way we can provide a welcoming environment for those experiencing homelessness and get them the resources or help that they may need while also mitigating any impacts to the surrounding community. We urgently need to build a new shelter and provide compassionate services. This should be about community and taking care of our most vulnerable, not about politics. We urgently need to bring the community in on these decisions, taking care of our most vulnerable, allowing our citizens the opportunity to participate in ending homelessness.

What’s the most prominent issue facing your city right now and what can you do about it?

Homelessness, affordable housing, public safety are all near the top of the list. But another issue that deserves attention is transportation. Over the next 10 years, the city is going to see massive increases in infrastructure and for every mode of transportation that we currently offer or will offer as part of a overall multi-modal solution. But it’s still not going to be enough to be able to provide people with the mobility that they want. But that’s the great opportunity that we have when it comes to giving people more mobility options. So we need to stay on top of those opportunities in front of us, be it:

• Light Rail
• The Bellevue Bike Network as part of the Bicycle Rapid Implementation Plan
• A bus system that should continue to expand and improve with more buses and routes
• The Pedestrian-Bicycle Implementation Initiative
• Recent passing of the Transportation Levy
• Transportation technology – Bellevue needs to stay at the cutting edge or technological solutions to our transportation issues. For example, ACES – autonomous, connected, electric, shared cars and buses. This will augment transit to give more options to the public. In fact, Gov. Inslee just passed an executive order supporting the testing and operating of autonomous cars/buses a few months ago. This will be a very real solution in the coming years for Bellevue citizens.

Assuming the city you live in is your favorite in the state, what’s your second favorite city in Washington state and why?

My second favorite would probably be Port Townsend. I love being near the water and this small beach town delivers in an unexpected way. From art galleries to great shopping from a burgeoning food scene to a wonderful beach, there is always something to do in this charming locale.

Do you think the city budget is in decent shape? Why or why not?

Yes, I think the city budget is in decent shape thanks to the good work from council members Lee, Robertson and Wallace. These budget hawks have balanced the budget year after year and have taken the approach that any tax increases would be a last resort. I believe that Bellevue voters have given the city more than enough tax revenue to execute on what we need to execute on as a city. Thankfully the City of Bellevue has many different revenue sources and currently has a good stream of revenue. Any tax increases should ideally be put to the ballot for citizens to approve. However, the city needs to continually prioritize its needs with such issues as Affordable Housing/Homelessness, Transportation and Public Safety at the top of the list.

If you could pick one thing for the city to stop spending money on, what would it be?

I believe our city is well managed and I am unaware of any egregious spending that would require an immediate stop. However, as your city council member it will be my responsibility to closely watch any and all spending and constantly evaluate the return on investment for the city on that spending.

If you could increase spending on one thing, what would it be?

I would increase spending on affordable housing. The city and the council assembled a team of experts from around the community that worked to address the issues of affordable housing. We have a plan. It is time for us to execute on this plan. As a city council member, I will endeavor to ascertain the implementation of this plan in a way that is equitable to all our citizens. I also support the continuation of the funding of ARCH and I advocate increasing its funding. I would also advocate increased funding of any innovative solutions to address this issue through more non-profit relationships with the city and also re-examining previous solutions like the MFTE (Multi-Family Tax Exemption) as a way forward, towards a sustainable and affordable Bellevue.

King County is planning to open a safe-injection site somewhere in the county. Do you think providing a safe-injection site will help reduce overdose deaths? Do you support one in your city? Why or why not?

I am strongly opposed to heroin injection sites and absolutely opposed to bringing these unsafe injection sites into Bellevue. These heroin injection sites do a terrible disservice for those struggling with addiction. The clear data and common sense show these sites make problems worse, not better. We need better education about the dangers of opioids, further development and training for doctors regarding pain killer prescriptions, more community outreach, and better treatment options - without putting drugs in the hands of our most vulnerable.

A safe injection site has not reduced overdose deaths in Vancouver, B.C. so why do we think it would work here? Heroin overdose deaths are up over 450% since Vancouver opened its injection site in 2003. Additionally, out of 6500 people that used Vancouver’s injection site in 2015, only 252 completed treatment to get off heroin.

Establishing a heroin injection site in Bellevue would create an area where buying, selling, and possessing drugs is essentially legal, drawing crime into Bellevue, right next to our homes, schools, parks, and businesses. If our community’s goal is to save lives, we should be getting people off heroin not creating a place for them to use.

In your free time, what’s your favorite thing to do locally?

Spending time with my family while enjoying and exploring over 2,500 acres of parks and trails in Bellevue.

When you go to a coffee shop, what drink do you usually get?

Americano

Image via Patch.com