City Council Candidate Diane Brennan Responds to Our Questions
Posted by the Kenmore Crow | Filed under Politics
Diane Brennan, candidate for Kenmore City Council position #2 (campaign website), was the first candidate to respond to our questionnaire. Following are her unedited answers.
- Why are you running for Kenmore City Council?
I ran for this position because I think the current city council is not responsive to the community’s concerns. I would work for a more open and transparent city government. I want to represent people in the community rather than dictate what should be done.
- What will be your top priority should you be elected to this position?
I would propose that the city apply for more government grants for income shortfalls on the 522 project, and to put in infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks in neighborhoods. In 1999, the city had a record-breaking number of grants but since then the number of grants have decreased.
- What is your favorite thing about Kenmore?
The friendly people, the city parks—my favorites are Wallace Swamp Creek Park, and St. Edwards State Park, and the bird-watching.
- What is your least favorite thing about Kenmore?
The Lakepoint industrial area (except for Kenmore Air and the Marina) which is destroying a beautiful lakefront. Also, I could do without the smell coming from the asphalt plant.
- Arrange these nearby cities in order from your favorite to your least favorite: Woodinville, Shoreline, Bothell, Kirkland, Brier.
Woodinville, Bothell, Shoreline, Kirkland, Brier
- What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing Kenmore in the next 5 years?
Keeping from going bankrupt. We have lost too many small businesses and their accompanying sales and revenue streams.
- What’s your favorite restaurant in Kenmore?
Ichiban Teriyaki—they have great pork teriyaki! My other favorite is Tai Ho.
- Why should voters select you over your opponents?
I don’t have any personal agenda for running for city council other than it causes me great pain to see what the city allows to happen to its citizens, the environment, and small businesses. I believe we need to update city codes to align with King County codes. I want to see the city’s code enforcement dramatically improved. I’m not a “yes” man who will rubber stamp everything (including the city budget) that is handed to me. I won’t make decisions behind closed doors.
I have served as precinct committee officer in Kenmore since 2004. During this time, I have spoken with hundreds of Kenmore residents as I went door-to-door to deliver voting information. This has given me deep insight into the unhappiness that people have with the city council. They tell me that the city doesn’t listen to them or care about them, and sometimes they’re called troublemakers for trying to get assistance from the city. The only people I know who have gotten any movement on a problem from the city have been people who hired lawyers.
I’m committed to researching issues, listening to the community, and finding the best possible solutions.
Thanks for sharing with us, Diane. So far I have sent two requests to Laurie Sperry, Diane’s November opponent, but have not yet gotten any response. I will continue to send inquiries to Ms. Sperry, as well as all of the other City Council candidates that will be on the ballot this fall.
Tags: city council, Diane Brennan, election, Politics
7 Responses to “City Council Candidate Diane Brennan Responds to Our Questions”
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Yeah Diane! I totally agree with her platform. Kenmore is dearly in need of some fresh faces on the council, not those who represent a very narrow spectrum of Kenmore’s citizens and not a few Kirkland citizens…
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Bravo!!!!!!This is someone who will listen, who will hear and who will respond, instead of cutting us off with cavalier answers and condescending remarks. I believe this is someone who wants Kenmore to be the BEST that it can be , and won’t roll over on any issue unless she personnally has educated herself on the impact it will make on our community.
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Kudos to Diane for responding. Her effort in finding this new blog and using it to convey her message indicates some initiative. New blood in a race always runs harder than the opposition. Maybe that’s what Kenmore needs right now to bring a fresh perspective on issues …. particularly how and where our money is spent.
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Hopefully the other candidates will respond. It looks like Mrs. Sperry doesn’t trust the Crow to be impartial.
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I really don’t understand Laurie Sperry’s decision not to answer the questions. They seem pretty innocuous to me, and I’m not even posting any commentary along with the candidate’s answers. What does it matter if I give my name or not?
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[...] I am disappointed that Mrs. Sperry would use this blog’s anonymity as an excuse not to answer a simple list of questions that may help the voters of Kenmore determine whether they should check her name on the ballot this fall or that of Diane Brennan. [...]
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[...] Diane Brennan Responds to Our Questions [...]
Janet Hays Says:
Dennis Hill Says:
August 25th, 2009 at 7:26 PM