October 2006

It's no wonder there's a surge of enthusiasm for public campaign financing.

Money scandals in Washington, D.C., and the tons of private money that fueled our own judicial primary and I-933 have sparked outrage. Gov. Gregoire now advocates public funding in judicial races. And why not include all our state candidates?

Here's a partial list of the rotten fruits of our current system:

1. Big contributors wield undue influence on government decisions.

2.

On a sunny fall afternoon, local lawmakers and supporters of Burien's Town Square joined together in an Oct. 10 groundbreaking for the multi-million dollar project.

Wielding ceremonial sledgehammers, Burien, state and federal officials tore down a wall at the old Puget Sound Educational Services District building at Southwest 152nd Street and Fourth Avenue Southwest.

Following demolition of the structure, a new Burien City Hall/King County Regional Library facility will be built there.

U.S. Sen.

There will be more fireworks in SeaTac's electoral politics this winter.

In September, city voters narrowly defeated a property tax hike that would have funded the replacement of two fire stations and the hiring of additional firefighters.

That election battle caused harsh words between former mayor Frank Hansen, who opposed the tax, and current lawmakers.

Now voters will have a chance in February to overturn the city's new fireworks ban as the result of a residents' initiative campaign.

City council members unanimously rejected on Oct.

Incredible Journey is more than just a movie about animals with a happy ending.

Sometimes incredible journeys happen in real life, too-especially when the pet has a microchip.

Just ask Scooter the cat.

Master Animal Control Officer Jan Magnuson with the Des Moines Police Department was called last week to pick up a cat that had been roaming loose near Highline Community College.

Magnuson soon found a grey-brown-black tabby male, a neutered domestic shorthair.

"The cat seemed very nice but had no collar, so I impounded him to the animal she

Times/News editor Eric Mathison has been named first place winner for best humorous columns in the 2006 Better Newspaper Contest, sponsored by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association.

Mathison was judged on three columns dealing with Burien's heyday including a suggested song lyric for Burien, pampered pets and his 40th Highline High School reunion.

The contest judge commented, "Author's use of humor in everyday occurrences is extremely effective.

Wait until next week to fill out and return your mail-in ballot for the Nov. 7 general election.

On Oct. 18, the Times/News will publish answers to our questions from candidates in contested races in legislative Districts 11, 33 and 34, which include the Highline area.

Those candidates are:

Senate: District 33-Sen. Karen Keiser (D), Karen Steele (R); District 34: -Sen. Erik Poulsen (D), Paul Byrne (R).

House of Representatives: District 11, Seat 2-Rep. Bob Hasegawa (D), John Potter (R); District 33, Seat 1-Rep.

It was a different band, but the same song.

Highline High School band members and parents expressed concern to district board members on Oct. 11 about the scheduling of band as part of the school's new small learning communities.

Band students and parents from SeaTac's Tyee campus aired identical complaints to the board last year when that school was divided into three small schools.

The principals of those schools had suggested band be scheduled after school.

Recently organized community groups in Des Moines are combining forces to make the Waterland Community a destination area.

Growing out of last year's Des Moines Mayor's Leadership Summit, the Public Safety Committee spearheaded a campaign that successfully promoted a property tax levy lid lift to restore police services that had been cut due to budget constraints.

The levy for these police services was approved in May.

Now Destination Des Moines, which was formed by separate committees created at the Leadership Summit and started the city's new farmers market l

Burien and SeaTac lawmakers have given official support to Transit Now, a ballot initiative to expand public transportation in King County.

Formally known as King County Proposition 2, the measure will go before voters in the Nov.

King County prosecutors have charged Rene Fernandez, 31, with second-degree murder for the Oct. 3 death of his 9-month-old niece.