The Nov. 8 City Council election could serve as Burien voters’ referendum on annexation of White Center and the remaining unincorporated North Highline area.

Only voters living within the proposed annexation area are eligible to actually vote for or against annexation. That vote may come next August or November but would exclude residents already within Burien city limits.

But Burien voters will get to choose between candidates who strongly differ on annexation.

Councilmen Jerry Robison and Gordon Shaw voted for the resolution to declare the city’s intent to annex North Highline. Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak voted against.

Robison’s opponent, Debi Wagner, and Shaw’s challenger, Bob Edgar, strongly oppose annexation. On the other hand, north Burien resident Greg Duff, who is running against Krakowiak, favors annexation.

There are other controversial issues in the council races but annexation looms large.

In the general election, ballots must be postmarked to King County Elections by Tuesday, Nov. 8.

We asked the candidates the following two questions:

1. What are your qualifications for the position and why should voters select you over your opponent?

2. Do you favor the Burien City Council's vote announcing the city's intent to annex White Center and the remaining unincorporated North Highline unincorporated area and why or why not?

Burien City Council Position 2

Greg Duff
1. Qualifications. Burien needs a new City Councilmember: Greg Duff. My record is strong. Currently a Burien Planning Commissioner, I know how the city should operate. Burien needs leaders who will keep our libraries and community centers open, and create policies that bring in family-wage jobs. I am that leader.

The newly annexed area of North Highline, where I served as President, added 14,292 residents last year. As President of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, I successfully battled King County government, preventing budget cuts to the Sheriff’s Office that would have cut officers. When Lucy Krakowiak and the King County Library Board proposed to close the White Center and the Boulevard Park libraries, I helped to gather almost 2000 signatures on a petition to keep the libraries open and today kids and families are still using those two libraries.

While leaders in other regional cities have driven out manufacturing and light industry, I will continue to promote land use development that protects the environment and our parks, encourages family-wage jobs and builds strong neighborhoods.

2. Annexation. I favor the Burien City Council’s vote to annex the North Highline Area. The very first and most important reason is to control the zoning. There are plans to build many more units of low income housing in that area and it needs to be stopped. Almost 40 percent of the low income housing in King County is located in North Highline. This housing is a drain on services and it does not bring in the tax dollars to cover them. If we don’t control the zoning in North Highline, Seattle or King County will and we don’t want their decisions affecting our property values in Burien.

The bottom line is that the council has already voted to move ahead with annexation. As a past president of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, I know the area very well and have the knowledge to make it a successful annexation. Please don’t fall for the scare tactics that the anti-annexation people are saying. Look at the facts and annexation makes sense.

Lucy Krakowiak
1. Qualifications. Eight years ago I won your vote with outstanding qualifications - community leader, business owner, environmentalist, and science teacher. Today, I include experience as your councilmember. Some of my achievements; keeping the spotlight on open and transparent government, ensuring a safe community, developing fiscally responsible budgets, increasing our awareness of our business community needs, continuing to weave arts and culture throughout our community, finding a balance between property rights and environment, and supporting working relationships between the city and school district.

2. Annexation. My greatest concern is ensuring Burien weathers this economic downturn. We've recently expanded, growing from approximately 30,000 to 45,000 residents. Integrating all of our neighborhoods with adequate levels of public safety, transportation, human services, and parks/recreation is my number one goal. Unfortunately, I've seen the opposite trend occurring.

As a councilmember, I regularly voice my concerns regarding these downward shifts, but often times find myself as a minority. To some, the city appears to be doing great. The budget is balanced and roads resurfaced. But, there are signs that indicate future challenges. Many of our storefronts remain empty. Senior programs have been reduced. Animal control has been cut from an adoption and spay/neuter program to animals being euthanized. Domestic violence is increasing. Effective programs need to be maintained while addressing areas of concern. I'm your candidate to help Burien shift its path to a more vibrant future. I ask for your vote!

Burien City Council Position 4

Bob Edgar
1. Qualifications. I’ve been actively involved in the Burien community for over 25 years during which time I have advocated for Burien residents concerning community issues such as: creation and protection of open spaces, uncontrolled storm water and surface water runoff, and, the protection of the shoreline environments in a sane and sensible manner.

For many years, I have volunteered and served the residents of our community on various boards and committees that addressed: creating neighborhood plans, airplane noise and over flights, and, local neighborhood land use and governance issues.

Over the years, I’ve gained extensive knowledge and experience from working with the Burien Comprehensive Plan and the Shoreline Master Program.

My educational degrees are in Computer Science and Earth Science; an MBA in Information Systems; and an Educational Leadership Doctorate from Seattle University.

The combination of skills, education and experience that I offer will help to create a positive change, fresh ideas and new perspectives on the challenges facing Burien.

2. Annexation. I do not favor the annexation of the North Highline at this time. Annexation is not financially feasible for the long-term benefit of the current Burien residents. The various analyses prepared by BERK Associates consistently have stated that once the state incentives to annex the area expire, the city will be immediately operating in a deficit of 3–4 million dollars each year.

Those analyses do not take into consideration the state’s current mitigation of a billion dollar shortfall in the state’s budget which may impact the incentive program by either reducing both the amount of the yearly state incentive and the number of years that the incentive is available or eliminating the incentive altogether.

Also, it does not take into consideration how Burien will fund the $46 to $77 million dollars required to meet the massive infrastructure needs in North Highline.

Gordon Shaw
1. Qualifications. I have lived in this community all my life and have been involved in many civic activities from coaching youth sports (16 years) to the Library Guild (7 years). I served on Burien's first planning commission for six years and have served on the City Council for eight.

I have raised three children who went to most of the same schools that my wife and I did. Now I have grandchildren that are following the same path. I feel that I know this community. I am a graduate of the U of W with a year of postgraduate study, along with many continuing education classes and conferences. I started my own company and built it into a $3,000,000.00 gross revenue company before I sold it and retired. Along the way I worked as a manager for several large companies and understand what it takes to guide large organizations to a successful bottom line. Voters should select me for my seasoned citizen age, business experience, and knowledge of this community.

2. Annexation. Yes, I favor the City Council's vote. I was one of the five members of the Council who voted for this motion. As I have said publicly many times, if the finances for this area are neutral or positive this will be good for Burien. It is hard for me to understand how North Highline will be the better neighbor that we all want if it is left unincorporated or annexed by Seattle. How will Burien be able to influence the direction of North Highline if it is in Seattle or left unincorporated? This community will still be our neighbor, while we have no ability to shape its future. The past decades of County control have not proved helpful to North Highline OR the City of Burien. The concentration of public housing and the lack of property taxes paid on these properties are an economic drag on the community. This might be OK in unincorporated King County. However, it will not suffice when and if Burien annexes the area.

Burien City Council Position 6

Jerry Robison
1. Qualifications. My broad experience and education in areas that are valuable for a City Council person to have. These include: Experience and education in land use and land use regulation derived from my degree in business administration and law degree, and decades of experience as a real estate broker and real estate attorney. General legal education and experience, including criminal law, administrative law, statutory interpretation, etc. Experience on a wide variety of organizations, including Burien City Council, Burien Planning Commission, Environmental Science Center at Seahurst Park (one of the original directors), Manufactured Housing Community Preservationists (affordable housing provider), Kiwanis, White Center Chamber of Commerce (President twice), Holly Street Coop Preschool (now dissolved) (board member), King County Bar Association Neighborhood Legal Clinic volunteer, and more. I know and have worked with Burien residents and businesses of all social, economic and ethnic varieties within the City. I represent the entire City, not just a select few, and have the depth and breadth of experience that my opponent lacks.

2. Annexation. Yes. I believe it is necessary to the future survival of Burien as a viable city, and the right thing to do for the people of North Highline. Prior to incorporation of Burien, the entire area was linked by a common school district and overlapping utility and fire districts, and the fact that they were outside of Seattle. North Highline will annex to either Seattle or Burien. In Seattle, the people of North Highline would have virtually no control over what is done to their area, and Burien would have absolutely no control but would have to deal with the consequences of Seattle’s planning decisions. Burien can and should take control of the future development of the area, and the people of North Highline deserve access to a close and responsive city government.

Debi Wagner
1. Qualifications. I think I would be a better candidate than my opponent because of my people oriented background of volunteerism and public service. I have volunteered at all my children’s Highline schools for 25 years. I have been a community volunteer for many years and a loud voice opposing airport noise, air and water pollution as past president of Citizens Against Sea-Tac Expansion.

I am co-founder of a national organization and a customer service representative for a local business. I volunteer as a musician in a local symphony. As a mom I have had to learn to juggle varying schedules, jobs, kids and home which is a huge task even with automatic washers and dryers.

2. Annexation. I do not favor annexation of Area Y/ White Center/North Highline. I cherish the small town atmosphere of Burien and hope to keep it that way.

I believe some financial feasibility assumptions in the current Berk report are overly optimistic and in other cases, figures are not carried over into the final analysis. For instance, future revenue forecasts reflect an annual 3 percent increase in property value with its higher tax collection. This may not be a reality. In fact, recently, many values went down.

Burien is counting on a steady stream of state provided tax incentives which may be eliminated due to the state’s inability to balance its own budget. Infrastructure, human service needs, storm water management and other items identified by the city of Seattle in their analysis and by King County records totaling anywhere from 34 million to 77 plus million are not accounted for in the yearly analysis.

My opponent and Gordon Shaw think my views are part of a vocal minority, which does not represent the majority views of Burien citizens. Whether they are right about that is up to you.