QUICK FACTS

BORN March 7, 1951 Seattle, WA HIGH SCHOOL Roosevelt Class of 1969 COLLEGE University of Washington School of Bus. Admin. Class of 1987 NEIGHBORHOOD View Ridge ORGANIZATIONS • Sand Point Citizen's Liaison Comm. (chair) • Friends of Magnuson Park (co-chair) • Rainier Valley Rotary Club (Secretary-Treasurer) • 46th District Democrats • Washington Ceasefire • Washington Blues Society

My Vision for Seattle

My name is Rusty Williams and I am a candidate for Seattle City Council. There will be many people to come your way for the three likely open seats this fall - the list is up to over 20 already.

I'm Seattle, born and proud. I'm old enough to remember when Seattle was the pride of the nation, and I'm young enough to know we can get there again.

My story is Seattle's story. Born of a hard working father and a feminist mother who went on to be Seattle City Councilwoman Jeanette Williams, I've got roots that go back over 100 years here.

My degree is in business. I'm a proud graduate of the University of Washington School of Business Administration. I've had successful careers in technology, small business, land use and sales for many years, I made a living as a fulltime musician - a guitarist.

And I love this town.

Seattle is a precious gift from Nature. Its people still want to be good neighbors. While we are losing jobs and longtime businesses are closing down, we still have more people filing for business licenses and building permits than most of the rest of the country.

However, I feel we are losing our way. We seem to be dying of mediocrity with no heroes in site. Youth violence has taken the lives of a dozen kids in a this year. Our parents are refusing to let one school close down. The Viaduct will fall down before we even have a solution that can get off the ground. And we are just beginning to get into the 520 bridge wars.

The Council fights with the Mayor, the Mayor ignores them but has an approval rating in the 20's. We have a snowstorm: we're paralyzed for days. We have windstorms and we lose power for weeks. It's not like we don't get natural disasters every year - it's that we are never prepared.

I have decided that it is time to stop whining, take responsibility for what I can do and get to work. Yes, I'll admit to being inspired by Obama. But I'm more inspired by what happened with all the people who decided they could make a difference.

I'm running to take responsibility for what needs to be done - and represent you by doing what you would if you had the time, money, and patience to live at City Hall.

My list of things that we need to do:

• The economy - Sure seems like federal stimulus packages are bailing out everyone but us, huh? Did you see that the seven banks who have been given millions of dollars up here have not made any loans to those of us who are applying?
• Transportation - we have two giant capitol projects - The Viaduct and 520 that are going to be underway. I say let's quit whining and get on with the Viaduct compromise tunnel. Stimulus money will pass us by if we don't stop arguing about it.
• Housing - the City's Comprehensive plan calls for increased density of housing. We have one the fastest growing populations under 35 yet they leave the minute they start having families.
• Our schools - classrooms are either overcrowded or empty and being shut down. Our state has slipped from 25th to 42nd in per pupil funding. Though it is not the City Council's first duty, we all need to take more responsibility here.
• Snow - Don't even get me started on the snow.
• The role of government in our lives - There was a time in my life when government was the good guy, not just the bureaucracy. Imagine if government were cool. If public process was back in vogue, and we listened to the people paying the bills, we could like our government again.

It will take hard work and laser focus to make a difference. To get this done, I will need more than your vote.

I also need your help, ideas, involvement, and a contribution would help as well.
We must cooperate. If we do, there is nothing we can't accomplish.

We are Seattle.
We are pioneers.
Recycling; Medic One; dialysis;
split shot triple venti mocha frappucinos.
We are Seattle.
We think progressively.
We consume responsibly.
We spend appropriately.
We are Seattle.
Mediocrity is unacceptable.
We can outdo ourselves.
We have to try, we have more to lose.
We need new energy- new ideas - and the courage to be bold again.
We are Seattle
And I LOVE THIS TOWN!

I'm Rusty Williams, I am running for City Council.
I would dearly appreciate your vote. Thank you.