Redmond 2019 Primary Guide: Mayor, Council Candidate Interviews

REDMOND, WA — The 2019 August primary is coming up on Aug. 6, and two Redmond races will be on the ballot. We sent each candidate in the race a questionnaire to help local voters pick the right candidate.

In Redmond Position 7 Council race, three candidates are running against incumbent David Carson. With the retirement of John Marchione this year, the mayoral race is wide open — although Position 5 Councilwoman Angela Birney is running for his seat.

We asked each candidate to answer four questions, with different questions for the mayoral and Council races. We did not edit the answers for either content or length. Here's what the candidates told us:

City Council Position 7

Shad Ansari

Why are you running?

I am running for Redmond City council because I am a long-time resident of Redmond since 1988 and I want to give back to the city at this important time. The city is going through tremendous changes and needs a true leadership in the city council to tackle and overcome obstacles and working with people. There is no transparency and accountability with the current city council. As a Holistic Physician I am trained to look into root cause issues for treatment approach and I will use the same approach when I am in the council. I have raised 2 startups successfully off the ground and have over 30 years of experience in business, finance, and operation of small business. I will bring all this and my interpersonal skills to work through issues at this important time.

How do you think light rail will change Redmond? Do you think the city needs to get denser, even outside downtown?

The Puget Sound region will continue to see dramatic population growth and Redmond is not excluded. So, we need to look into the future and at certain point, rail may be the only effective means of transporting so many people through the region’s narrow corridors. And as expensive as rail is, going forward it will still be cheaper than adding new roads. However, at this point light rail is not going to reduce our current traffic congestion in the city. In fact, it would add to it with the current plan for the stops and the city urban planning. There is no question that Redmond will become denser in the future with or without rail. But with the light rail we have an opportunity now to provide incentives and utilize the ground transportation in conjunction with the light rail. This will reduce the car traffic significantly. We need to work with the big size companies such as Microsoft to implement some of those incentives.

If you could enact one new law or policy change, what would it be?

I will put together measures for reducing traffic in Redmond by implementing the smart technologies that the city of Bellevue has successfully implemented for their traffic. As part of technology policy change, I will introduce measures into our city IT infrastructure to totally revamp our existing outdated IT infrastructure. I will make the IT system accessible and secure for permit applications, permit related info, payments, and other information system needs.

What do you envision for the Marymoor Village area?

I like the idea vision of Marymoor Village as an urban, mixed-use “village. However, we have a good opportunity now to put all the different elements of efficient urban planning into it to make it a success. I envision a village where it embraces the diversity of different cultures in Redmond while providing small businesses, and young or retired families residing within the same village. I envision that we from the city provide incentives to small businesses so they can come into the village and thrive and give back to the community. I envision light rail and other latest transportation combined with the smart city technologies to become an example for future villages in the Puget sound.

David Carson (I)

Why are you running?

I’m running because there are several things I’d like to see completed after the substantial investment in the downtown has been completed (some of which I did not support). We have committed to the completion of West Lake Sammamish Parkway between 40th and 51st to alleviate congestion and give the south Redmond community the pedestrian/bike connection to 51st that such an expansion will deliver. Enhancements to Redmond Way at East Lake Sammamish Parkway will help streamline traffic in the PM commute which is desperately needed. Also, I want to see that there is funding for developing a series of parks on the east side of Redmond. These can be done for a relatively small investment and it’s time we started them.

How do you think light rail will change Redmond? Do you think the city needs to get denser, even outside downtown?

Light Rail will be an excellent way for those who live or work in Redmond to commute, but it will also allow those who live outside of Redmond to visit our shopping, restaurants and events more easily. It won’t be without some growing pains, but I do think it will overall be a benefit to our community and it will be here in a few short years. The difficult part is the point we are at right now: the construction phase. I have consistently advocated for the disruption to businesses and residents to be minimized and I will continue that approach.

Regarding Marymoor Village, the Redmond City Council has committed to adding density in the Downtown core (including Marymoor Village) and Overlake Village. I do think there are also limited locales outside of these that we should be looking at for additional multi-family development (like along Avondale), but single-family neighborhoods would be off-limits to high density development to preserve their character. The council will be looking at amendments to the Comprehensive Plan that could allow some multi-family developments. I can also see areas on the edges of the city limits being good candidates for small single family in-fill developments (several have already been proposed) as well as perhaps a few small cottage style homes in the right setting.

If you could enact one new law or policy change, what would it be?

Shopping carts found off-premises and in the possession of persons without permission would be considered theft and be prosecuted as such. As an additional facet of this, grocery stores would be required to have a “Cart Management and Recovery Plan” as several cities in California have enacted to keep carts from leaving the premises or recover them if they have.

What do you envision for the Marymoor Village area?

As a member of the council that passed the Marymoor Village plan, I do think it should be a neighborhood that is allowed to evolve more naturally and eclectically. This means that you might have manufacturing and commercial uses near multi-family residential (as new development occurs) which will give this neighborhood a unique look and feel.

Carlos Jiminez

Why are you running?

I am running for Redmond City Council Position 7 because I believe that every person in
Redmond deserves a voice at the table. Our voices in our local government impact the
policies that shape our everyday lives and the lives of the next generation. As an advocate
for racial, economic, and social justice, I would serve to represent the entire community.
We in the city of Redmond are a diverse community from all over the world...we are
seniors, we are teens, we are the disabled community, we are the homeless and the
houseless, the LGBTQ community, and the Native American community. I envision a City
Council where we the people have a place at the table, where all voices are heard, where
respect for the longtime resident as well as the new resident results in policies and
innovative ideas that benefit the whole. I am running for City Council because in order to
be the best city we can be, to be a full, vibrant, and culturally rich city, we need to listen to
the people, and to acknowledge and respect the contributions of all the various
communities that call Redmond home.

How do you think light rail will change Redmond? Do you think the city needs to get denser, even outside downtown?

Light rail will allow the people of Redmond greater access to Bellevue and Seattle. For
those of us without transportation or with limited funds, it will make for faster commutes
and access to a wider range of opportunities. It will reduce the load of cars on our roads,
resulting in a reduction of negative environmental impacts from vehicles. The station in
downtown Redmond will encourage foot traffic through town, and benefit our many thriving
businesses, as well as having a positive effect on property values. It is imperative that our
community has access to information that will help guide them on how to utilize this
resource in the most beneficial way. The city has a responsibility to inform residents to help
them get from start point to end point efficiently, and to reach out to the community to let
them know what the long-term benefits are for the greater good so that we have high local
use.

Redmond has grown dramatically in recent years. We are experiencing tremendous
change, and there are always challenges that come with change. But with challenge also
comes opportunity. The new developments in the downtown area allow us the opportunity
to shape the kind of Redmond that we want to live in. We may envision a city with planned
green spaces, vibrant gathering spaces, flexible indoor and outdoor mixed-use spaces,
public art where it is freely accessible to our community, and an abundance of the
amenities that residents desire. Development can be done consciously through thoughtful
design of the urban core. We need to make provisions for affordable housing options. It is not acceptable to displace longtime residents, or to run a city where only a portion of the people who work here can afford to live here. We can’t ignore the regional demands of a rising population and a growing business sector. However, development can be accomplished in a way that is respectful to the community while planning responsibly for the future ahead. As a civil engineer and artist, I look forward to hearing the community’s thoughts and implementing policies that are carefully considered and that respond to current and future needs.

If you could enact one new law or policy change, what would it be?

Small businesses are the backbone of America. Our large corporations that call Redmond
home are important and needed as part of the community, but small businesses give us our
charm, our character and our civic personality. Tax incentives and economic subsidies tend
to favor corporations, so I would propose ideas to level the playing field and give our
valued small-business owners an opportunity to remain in their hometown even as the
business environment, property values, and rents in Redmond continue to change.
Redmond could require development projects to reserve a portion of their first-floor space
for small storefronts and locally-owned businesses. This could be done through permitting
or through agreements on a project-by-project basis. Local businesses would not have to
compete against large scale businesses for prime space in new developments. If we want
to promote the idea of a whole, fully functioning city, then we also need to make room for
our long-time businesses to be able to continue to thrive. We could also enact a preference
for locally-owned businesses with regards to preference for city purchasing, which acts as
an economic incentive for small businesses to continue to invest in the community.
In order to keep city street fronts eclectic, vibrant, and unexpectedly diverse and unique,
we could enact a Business Diversity Ordinance where we encourage the independent
expression of our diverse communities in local businesses. This ensures that independent
entrepreneurs do not get crowded out by chains by allotting space for local businesses in
certain areas of the city. It benefits the community because business owners will not be
displaced by development, and the greater community has access to a wider variety of
unique commercial offerings.

What do you envision for the Marymoor Village area?

Marymoor Village will have a light rail station and parking area. There will be increased
traffic in this area due to the light rail station. I envision a design plan that accommodates
traffic as people go about their everyday activities in Redmond as well as accommodating
the traffic that will inevitably come from farther afield into Redmond to park at the
Marymoor lot and use the light rail. We have a responsibility to plan ahead, and to
objectively quantify the impacts of the growth in the Marymoor Village area so that we can
build-in solutions before they have impacts on the surrounding area.

I visualize the Marymoor Village area as a walkable area that links green spaces with
gathering spaces and shopping. As more residential buildings move into this area, it will be
important to foster an environment that is healthy and that exemplifies the design ideals
that highlight community connection, human scale, and opportunities for varied uses within
public spaces. It is critical that as this area expands, we consciously include options for
affordable housing, as well as a variety of housing types.
As founder and Executive Director of Centro Cultural Mexicano in Redmond, I would like to
see a cultural center in or near the Marymoor area that partners with community based
organizations to meet the needs of our greater community and to complement the work
that is already being done in Redmond. I envision the types of services that will set
Redmond apart from other cities our size. We have so much opportunity here to partner
with various entities to create innovative programs, and to stretch our imaginations to be
leaders in the region in protecting our environment, in creating strong healthy communities,
and in focusing on our most vulnerable communities to become stronger together and
create a city that we are all proud to call home.

Osama Hamdan

Why are you running?

This is my second attempt at running. I am running because I want to represent different slices of the community and want to make sure the city is actively engaged in feedback from the community and understands the impact decision have on residents and surrounding communities.

How do you think light rail will change Redmond? Do you think the city needs to get denser, even outside downtown?

Light rail plays a critical role in both Redmond and the Eastside, but we need a plan on how to connect surrounding communities so that everyone benefits from it. This will enable more density not just in downtown, but in many of the other communities on the Eastside.

If you could enact one new law or policy change, what would it be?

This would require more studies, but we need to come up with a plan that will enable current residents to contribute to the growth and density of Redmond by reviewing and updating building codes to benefit current residents.

What do you envision for the Marymoor Village area?

Marymoor Village needs to be a destination point for residents that takes into account density as well as environmental impact to ensure we grow while also improving the quality of life in Redmond and the Eastside.

Redmond Mayor

Angela Birney

What motivated you to run for Redmond mayor?

Redmond has been my family’s home for over 20 years. Our lives in Redmond have included
preschool at Farrell McWhirter, volunteering at Norman Rockwell, and watching our daughters
play soccer at every field in the area. I love this city.

I am running for mayor to guide Redmond through the next stages of growth and maintain the
great quality of life that makes our city a wonderful place to live. I believe our next mayor must
prioritize the city’s livability, environment, and community. I’m prepared to bring those
priorities and values to the mayor’s office, along with my long history in the community and
experience as City Council President.

Throughout my involvement in the community, from the Parks and Trails Commission to Redmond City Council President, I have worked to ensure Redmond is a place people want to
call home. We now have an opportunity to improve upon what we’ve built. With your support, I
will lead Redmond into our next chapter as a collaborative city where people, communities,
neighborhoods, and businesses work together to create a place where all are welcome, and all
thrive. Let’s create a connected Redmond.

How do you think light rail will change Redmond? Do you think the city needs to get denser, even outside downtown?

Light Rail will better connect Redmond to the rest of our region, increasing not only opportunity
in transportation, but also in jobs, in education, and in countless other ways. It will also help us
manage our growth—allowing for density in concentrated areas along transit corridors.

Density will remain in the city’s urban areas with accessible mass transit, which means reduced
impact on traffic and the environment, while providing expanded opportunity for services.

We have the capacity to accept the growth required by the Growth Management Act in urban
centers, but we need an experienced and collaborative mayor to work with regional partners
and the City Council and implement a responsible, effective growth plan. I will be that mayor.

If you could enact one new law or policy change, what would it be?

I would work with the City Council and my staff to pass laws and focus our efforts the following
areas:

Livability: Bringing down the cost of housing by creating opportunities to produce more
workforce housing as well as more housing choices, so that longtime residents and people who
work in Redmond can continue to live in Redmond.

Environment: I would evaluate our planning policies, protect and expand our parks and public
spaces, and make decisions with an environmental and climate lens. We need to look at our
current building codes and find opportunities to reduce our climate impact and encourage
responsible development, while maintaining the character of our neighborhoods and natural
resources.

Community: Establish a more coherent and consistent city-wide communication and
community involvement plan, so that all can be involved in local government and have access
to the services and support they need. We should also aim to be more inclusive, looking at
programs in the city with a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens, so that all in Redmond can
thrive.

What do you envision for the Marymoor Village area?

I see the future Marymoor Village as a vibrant neighborhood, adjacent to a world class park,
with a light rail station and transit options that grant easy access to the rest of our region. It will
be a place where families can live, work, shop, and meet most of their needs without a car. I
believe it will be an urban village that Redmond can be proud of and highlight as a great
example of the community-driven, innovative city that we are.

Andrew Koeppen

What motivated you to run for Redmond mayor?

Because I believe in the importance of giving back to the community. As a Proud American, one who has completed the immigration process in 2018, I want to give back to the country and the city which has given my family so much.

I believe that Redmond is at a crossroads and I believe that I have the technical, business, but most importantly, the interpersonal skills to get people to work together to create the leading city of the Puget Sound.

How do you think light rail will change Redmond? Do you think the city needs to get denser, even outside downtown?

Light rail will dramatically affect Redmond. It will bring with it many opportunities as well as problems. Understanding the opportunities and anticipating and mitigating the problems of Light Rail will allow Redmond to prosper and grow into the leading city of the Puget sound. The current city administration is great at extolling the many virtues of transit and downplaying the
negative impacts light rail will have.

As Mayor, I definitely would work diligently to capitalize on the many benefits that light rail will bring. However, I will also acknowledge what it won’t do, namely reduce traffic congestion, and what it will do negatively, like increase local traffic congestion and crime. The reason I will acknowledge the negative impacts, is simply so we can implement as soon as possible,
solutions to mitigate the problems. Some of these solutions will include the use of Smart City
Technologies (ie. the Internet of Things (IoT)) and philosophies to deal with traffic and crime reporting. I believe It is easier and far more cost effective to be proactive in solving problems than waiting for problems to fully manifest themselves.

Do you think the city needs to get denser, even outside downtown and the Marymoor area?

There is no getting around the fact that Redmond will become, by necessity, more densely populated. In order to preserve key areas in Redmond and in order to keep Redmond as affordable as possible, I would work with our largest employer, Microsoft, to investigate if changes in density zoning at their campuses would benefit not only Microsoft but Redmond as a whole. I will support increasing density in areas of the city where it makes sense from an environmental, transportation, and infrastructure standpoint. Yet I will keep key areas, namely parks, established neighborhoods protected because that is where the unique character of Redmond exists.

If you could enact one new law or policy change, what would it be?

While not a law or policy, if I could change one current attitude at city hall, I would change “If you
identify a problem you are the problem,” to “those that identify a problem are the leaders in creating change, because the first step in solving a problem is identifying the problem.”
I want to bring civility to city hall. To have a city where people are free to discuss whatever idea,
problem, or issue they have and know that they will be respected and not be attacked. We need to get rid of the attack dog mentality that has gripped not only our country but our city.

What do you envision for the Marymoor Village area?

Since Marymoor Village is right now in the planning phase, it makes sense for it to be the starting point for Smart City Technology (IoT) and philosophies to be implemented. A place where smart traffic and parking controls are used to mitigate the increase in density and traffic. I envision Marymoor village to have areas for local and amateur art. I envision Marymoor village where all transportation options are efficiently deployed so people can use whatever transportation options that best suits their needs. I envision Marymoor village an area that is alive with families. I envision Marymoor village having a thriving and diverse business area.

Steve Fields

What motivated you to run for Redmond mayor?

I am motivated to run for Mayor of Redmond to bring much needed improvements
to how are city is managed and how or growth is planned. Over the past decade the current leadership favored the perspective and needs of developers and special interests. We cannot let this carelessness continue. I see a more inclusive and accountable future for our city. I will bring the needed change and visionary leadership that puts residents at the center of planning Redmond’s future. I have the government management and budget experience that will move Redmond forward as a smart city that stays ahead of challenges and implements cutting edge solutions that foster a greater quality of life for everyone.

Redmond must have leadership that always stays accountable to the residents. My leadership experience in multi-billion-dollar complex government organizations and work managing large municipal budgets was highlighted with a commitment to value, integrity and serving the public.

How do you think light rail will change Redmond? Do you think the city needs to get denser, even outside downtown?

Light Rail will play a dominant role in shaping the future of Redmond and our connection to the broader region. Light Rail has the potential to enhance our city’s image as a major city and build on our economic growth and improve our community as a sustainable and livable city. The impact of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) in Redmond provide good opportunities to limit traffic while adding more homes. However, unless we very deliberately and carefully plan to maximize the potential of Light Rail by planning and implementing an integrated transportation system that serves all residents it could easily make our traffic worse.

Our population in Redmond is projected to continue to grow. By this definition of more people moving here we will certainly become denser in population relative to our space available. The challenge and the focus should be on how and at what pace this can happen and still keep our city character, our quality of life, and ensure infrastructure and public services keep pace. Growth at the expense of our current residents is not acceptable. Development outside our urban centers has already been taking place over the past 10 years. North Redmond continues to grow. The building of Cottage homes in northwest Redmond have changed thecharacter of long-standing neighborhoods. New homes on Willows road have been approved. We need to be much more strategic in our growth.

Our first priority in planning and managing growth should always be improving the day to day lives of people. Developers are essential community partners whose role is to build according to the standards, style and community character that we determine. The clearer we are in those requirements the better it is for the city and developers to plan and build safe, attractive, and interesting downtown and urban centers as well as the careful placement of development in other locations. Our buildings, streets and public gathering places should enhance our everyday lives and the beauty of our built and natural environment.

If you could enact one new law or policy change, what would it be?

Our biggest policy changes need to be focused on building stronger trust in city government. I am committed to a more accountable, transparent city government that is focused on answering to the community. I will make it easier and more meaningful for people to have a say in city decisions. We cannot effectively address our most pressing problems such as environmental protection, housing affordability, managing growth, and catching up on roads, parks, and other infrastructure if residents don’t have trust in city government. The primary principle of democracy is representation. Community engagement is not a choice for an elected it is a requirement of the job. I will work closely with neighborhood and community groups that will help connect every household, every person to city government, and more of us to one another.

With the support and trust from residents we can begin to better envision and prepare our city for the future. Change will continue. Light Rail, new technologies, climate impacts, and continued development are a certainty. We need to look honestly at the things that are shaping our future. Particular areas include meeting the demands of growth, impacts of climate change, proactively creating a unified and diverse community, housing options that meet all levels of income, safe and efficient transportation for all ways of getting around Redmond and the region.

What do you envision for the Marymoor Village area?

With the recent approval of the Overlake and Marymoor Village projects we have the opportunity to build practical, appealing and functional urban center this time around.

I envision the Marymoor Village as an urban center that combines the beauty of our natural and built environment. It will include recreation, shopping and other community gathering places within convenient walkable distances It will be planned with good design standards that instill pride and are successful in using space to make density and livability a hand-in-hand outcome. It will employ smart city technology to deliver a transportation system that works for all forms of mobility. Pedestrian friendly and safe roads, transit options, walkable paths, and bike trails, plus transit-oriented development. I see this as a Redmond urban center that includes plenty of public and green space that invites the community to participate in creating local art, placemaking, and involvement in adding public amenities that are exciting and interesting and facilitate community activities.