The Times/News last week contacted candidates for Highline-area elective offices whose names appear on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

Questions asked in each race and their answers appear below.

All candidates on the ballot are listed. However, due to space constraints only those with opponents were asked to respond to questions.

* incumbent.

Burien City Council

1. What is your top priority for fighting crime?

2. How will you expand economic development city wide?

3. Do you favor or oppose annexation of North Highline? Why?

Position 2

Lucy Krakowiak

Unopposed

Position 4

Stephen Lamphear

1. Police and courts account for about half the city's budget. As a councilman, I voted for additional police officers targeted to high crime situations-including a multifamily complex. Effectively focusing officers reduces crime. Block watch programs also put more "eyes on the street". Police services are expensive, so we need them focused on real issues. I support targeted policing to fight crime where it happens.__

2. Expansion of the city's economic development effort needs to be site appropriate, and protect our neighborhoods. As a councilman, I voted to make the highly airport-affected Northeast area more attractive to light commercial development. Property owners now have a potential market. The city needs to aggressively promote opportunities there.

__3. I favor a thorough community review of potential annexation. It would be irresponsible to do otherwise. There are significant financial impacts on Burien if Seattle takes the annexation, including the loss of police resources and loss of fire services to a large part of north Burien. We need to understand the complex range of impacts and develop options to deal with them.

Gordon Shaw*

1. I supported funding for a gang unit by King County. I also advocate another police officer for Burien 24/7. But it takes six officers to make that happen. We will sit down soon with King County to determine cost factors. In 2008 the council will study the plusses and minuses of Burien having its own police department.

2. I will pursue the Northeast Redevelopment Area to get broader based economic activity so we can get a broader based tax structure so city tax revenues will not be tied too much to swings in the economic cycle. The best thing is to use the Lora Lake triangle to start the economic engine in the whole northeast area.

3. I would like to see [North Highline] become part of Burien if it's financially feasible, and that's a stretch at this point. I'm not willing to have annexation be more than a combined deficit of 3 percent, based on the annual budgets for Burien and North Highline. We need to equalize the revenue the state will contribute to both Burien and Seattle if either annexes the area.

Position 6

Ed Dacy

1. We need to encourage neighborhoods to participate in the Block Watch program. We need to add additional patrol officers to our police force. Though funding of this will be challenging and take some time, I believe overall it will make Burien safer. We need to ask Chief Kimerer what else the Burien Police Department needs that is not being currently provided.

2. First, we need to find out from the business community if the City is doing anything that is harmful to its business environment, especially to the family owned businesses. Secondly, we need to find out what Burien could do to make Burien a more business friendly community, without losing that Burien feel that is so unique. Finally, we need to keep moving ahead in attracting businesses to the Northeast Redevelopment Area.

3. At this point in time I am undecided. The two options currently on the table, the full annexation by Seattle or Burien, both present challenges for Burien. I will make my decision, using all available information, based on what is in the best interest of Burien.

Kathy Keene

1. It's easy to say "hire more police," but first what's the problem we need to address? Police officers are expensive. Are the costs fiscally prudent? I will work closely with Chief Kimerer to assure that we are giving him and his officers the support and tools they need to perform their job.

2. We don't want to expand economic development in the residential areas. We do need to encourage business expansion and diversity in the downtown core. I would like to encourage businesses that create living wage jobs, such as light manufacturing, in the Northeast Redevelopment Area.

3. It is unwise and irresponsible to take a stand on this issue: we don't even know what, if anything, we might annex. We're back where we started a year ago with many of the same concerns; i.e. the potential loss of two fire stations and adequate fire coverage for the north end of Burien, as well as significantly reducing the number of police officers. We need an open and honest community discussion based on facts, not speculation.

Des Moines City Council

Position 2

Dan Sherman*

Unopposed

Position 4

Scott Thomasson*

Unopposed

Position 6

Bob Sheckler*

Unopposed

Normandy Park City Council

1. What is the next step in local economic development?

2. How will you balance growth and the environment?

Position 1

Stuart Creighton*

1. The city has two commercial centers and we need to focus our attention on helping those places to become more successful. Normandy Park is about 98 percent single family homes and large economic development opportunities are not available. But working with developers and encouraging the best use of our commercial sites is in the city's best interest.

2. Growth in Normandy Park is mostly redevelopment of existing home sites, as there are very few vacant lots left in the city. The city is in the process of reviewing its main land use regulations: building codes, critical areas ordinance and shoreline management plans.

The challenge is to make sure that new homes/major remodels can happen without over-whelming current neighborhoods. Sensitive areas need to be protected.

Doug Osterman

1. I will work with residents to develop and implement a unifying neighborhood plan, in partnership with Burien and Des Moines, along First Avenue South. The issues to address include vehicular traffic, transit, walking, biking, safety, and housing, utility and commercial land uses. The impact on adjacent neighborhoods must be positive. The goal will be to create a highly attractive and desirable neighborhood to live, work, shop, and play.

2. Growth (new housing and retail development) must be done in ways that protect and improve our creeks, wetlands, and beaches. This balance can be achieved by being more flexible in allowing houses closer to streams if existing degraded habitat is restored. Low impact technologies must also be used as our community develops.

Position 3

Shawn McEvoy*

Unopposed

Position 5

George Hadley*

Unopposed

Position 7

William Enersen*

Unopposed

SeaTac City Council

Position 1

Gene Fisher*

Unopposed

Position 3

Terry A. Anderson*

Unopposed

Position 5

Ralph Shape*

Unopposed

Position 7

Mia Gregerson

Unopposed

Tukwila

1. What is your top priority for fighting crime?

2. How will you expand economic development city wide?

3. How will you balance transportation and the environment?

Mayor

Pam Carter

1. My top priority is to fill vacancies in the police department so it has the staffing to address crime prevention, especially in the Tukwila International Boulevard corridor. This will enable the police to target efforts in the areas where they are most needed and to fully utilize its special units such as narcotics investigations.

2. We must move forward on Tukwila Village, a mixed-use high-quality development, as a catalyst to redevelopment along the Tukwila International Boulevard corridor. We must develop a vision and a plan for the highway corridor, especially near the light rail station, so that we can attract quality development. While we must protect and nurture our residential neighborhoods, we should also ensure that development regulations and taxes do not deter businesses from locating here.

3. Our transportation improvements should include elements that make it easier for people to get around by walking, bikes and transit. That means bike lanes, sidewalks, and denser housing near our rail stations. We must ensure that the required mitigations for transportation improvements adequately compensate for unavoidable impacts to the environment.

Jim Haggerton

1. Increase police visibility throughout Tukwila neighborhoods and business districts. This includes re-activating the Police Bicycle Patrol for Highway 99 and other targeted areas. While most people report satisfactory response time when calling 9-1-1, we can always do better and Police visibility will be improved to address concerns regarding burglaries, thefts, prostitution, etc.

2. In short: Get things moving! I made initial contact with a developer over 10 years ago to assemble parcels for the Tukwila Village site on Highway 99. There has been no development to date. I believe with vision, positive negotiations, and signed developer agreements, we can start construction in the very near future. It will take teamwork, but will result in a much more efficient use of city funds.

3. I will work, along with other cities in South King County, with Metro Transit and Sound Transit to expand bus service. We need to make sure there is frequent bus service that connects to the Tukwila Light Rail Station and the Tukwila rail station used by Amtrak and Sounder commuter rail. A permanent facility at the Tukwila Commuter Rail Station is high priority.

City Council

Position 2

Kathy Hougardy

1. On Highway 99 and adjacent neighborhoods, an emphasis on law enforcement and crime prevention. Making sure that Tukwila Police have the resources that they need to make this happen. In our residential communities, increased emphasis on block watches to discourage crime and catch criminal activity.

2. Encourage economic development of the entire city, including: redevelopment of the Associated Grocer's warehouse site in North Tukwila, the Tukwila Valley South potential annexation area, the area around the Tukwila commuter rail station off of Interurban, the area adjacent to new light rail station, and Tukwila Village.

3. Support transportation improvements that contribute to the wetland mitigation bank and other environmental concerns. Encourage development of public transportation that will serve the Tukwila Community. Let county and state planners know that Tukwila should be more than just a transportation corridor that gets people to other cities. And support additional bicycle and pedestrian paths that give people alternative methods of getting around.

Brian P. Kennedy

1. The ideal way to fight crime is prevention. 80 percent of our crime is committed by nonresidents. Having citizens, landlords, retailers and the police meeting to voice their problems and strategies is a great idea. This is already being done, but being more inclusive and frequent will strengthen the fight.

2. We need to accelerate the development process. It is prudent to watch out for Tukwila's interests, but 11 years for Tukwila Village and four years for the Tukwila South Project (LaPianta) is too much. While Tukwila looks for new tax sources, these two projects sit at their front door. They need to get the issues to be worked out, so these developments can get going and the nonresidential taxes flowing.

3. In Tukwila, I will strive to increase the flow of traffic out of gridlock so there is less exhaust from idling. We need an overall bike lane program. A shuttle that circles Tukwila's retail area would help alleviate traffic. A park and ride shuttle could help too. Attending NW Ports Clean Air Strategy meetings will keep citizens involved.

Position 4

Dennis Robertson*

Unopposed

Position 6

Joan M. Hernandez*

Unopposed

Highline School Board

(District No. 401)

1. How will you contribute on a board with a majority of new members?

2. What will you do to improve test scores in the district?

Director, District 1

Sili Savusa

Unopposed

District 4

Bernie Dorsey

1. Whenever a new group comes together they must discover where they agree, where they disagree and find consensus within the long-term strategy. I have served as a PTSA president for three terms, a member of the Board of the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence, and on numerous other advisory boards and committees. This broad range of experience should serve me well as this new board comes together.

2. We must have a measure to determine our effectiveness, but in order to improve a student's achievement we must consider all aspects of that child's life. Can he or she communicate effectively? Is the child supported at home? Does the child have the tools she or he needs to succeed? If we know each child and his or her circumstances, we will, in the end, improve each child's ability to score well.

Melissa Sue Robinson

No contact information.

District 5

Michael D. Spear

Unopposed

Tukwila School Board

(District No. 406)

1. What is your top priority for Tukwila schools?

2. What will you do to improve test scores in the district?

Director, District 2

Amela Babic

Did not respond.

Patti Maltsberger*

1. The top priority for Tukwila Schools for this year is to continue the early literacy efforts that were started last year. Ready for Kindergarten and All-Day Kindergarten are two of the programs helping to get all students ready to be readers. Another task will be to find a new superintendent to lead the district for next year.

2. Improving test scores is difficult when the WASL tests are basically a test of English proficiency. Looking at the score data for students that have at least four years of English, the results are above the state levels. Continuing efforts in literacy will be the only way to accomplish additional improvements.

District 4

Mark Wahlstrom

Unopposed

District 5

(short and full term)

W. Cory Manago

Unopposed

King County Council

1. Do you support Executive Ron Sims in opposing the demolition of the Lora Lake Apartments?

2. What is your position on the possible annexation of North Highline?

3. What is your top priority for fighting crime in the Highline area?

District 8

Dow Constantine (D)*

1. I support a negotiated settlement between all parties-including King County, the Port, and Burien-that would preserve as many units at the Lora Lake Apartments as possible, while promoting Burien's economic development. It is up to the governments involved to ensure that the housing is transferred into public or non-profit ownership and the current owners are compensated.

2. I support a solution that results in the entire North Highline area being annexed to a city or cities. King County can no longer afford the high quality services that the citizens of North Highline want and deserve. Any annexation must ultimately be approved by a public vote of the citizens of North Highline.

3. We must address the increasing gang activity in areas served by the King County Sheriff. I sponsored the motion to create the Sheriff's new Gang Suppression Unit, which was approved unanimously by the Council. Executive Sims has included the gang unit in his budget proposals, and I am working to ensure this item is funded in the final 2008 King County budget.

John Potter (R)

Did not respond.

Port of Seattle Commission

1. Do you favor the demolition of the Lora Lake Apartments?

2. Do you think the Port of Seattle is managed in a financially responsible manner? If no, how will you change the financial management?

3. What will you do to prevent Port of Seattle seaport business from going to other ports?

Position 2

Bob Edwards*

Did not respond.

Gael Tarleton

1. I am not in favor of the current plan to demolish the Lora Lake Apartments. The Port has failed in its responsibility to show leadership on this issue. My opponent would have done better by the housing community to have worked this issue out two or three years ago.

2. I do not believe the Port of Seattle is managed responsibly. Third runway cost overruns, baggage screening cost overruns, musical terminals for cruise and container ships have all contributed to a severe public distrust. The Port of Seattle has one of the most generous tax subsidies in the country and they still lack to operate in the black. My opponent was Commission President when the State Auditor gave the Port a failing grade on its financial performance - TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

3. The Port of Tacoma is eating our lunch. Vancouver, British Columbia isn't far behind. They have shown real leadership and they have a vision for what a port needs to be competitive in the 21st century. We need to change the way we do business so shippers can move their exports and imports through the Port to their final markets much faster.

Position 5

Bill Bryant

1. As someone who has served as a volunteer overnight supervisor in a homeless shelter, I know low income housing helps people transition from the streets into the workforce, so my heart is with preserving those housing units. But the commission should have decided that years ago. Just because it's an election year doesn't justify commissioners reneging on agreements.

2. The SeaTac baggage system cost overruns reveal the absence of any financial accountability at the port. My opponent admitted, "I don't think the port commission has in the last many years been a very effective watchdog" and "[the port commission] undertakes a lot of projects that are really wasteful..." That is unacceptable. We need to change the port commission and install financial systems that hold specific people accountable for delivering projects on time and on budget.

3. To keep business we must be able to move freight to the American Midwest faster than other West Coast ports. Eliminating freight-related traffic bottlenecks and partnering with South King County cities to improve truck and rail corridors is essential to keeping business.

Alec Fisken*

1. I oppose the demolition of the Lora Lake units that are not eliminated by FAA regulation.

2. No. The Port is financially irresponsible. The cure is to phase out the tax levy over 10 years.

3. I'll make sure we're working with other ports (ports are exempt from anti-trust rules) to coordinate rates and environmental regulations

Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department

(King County Fire District 2)

Commission Position 2

Ted Sitterley*

Unopposed

North Highline Fire Department

(King County Fire District 11)

Commission Position 2

(short and full term)

1. Should Fire Districts 2 and 11 merge?

2. What is your top priority for improving local fire-protection service?

Wayne G. Alishokis*

Did not respond.

Heidi R. Johnson

1. North Highline Fire Department and Burien City Fire Department should definitely merge. Twelve years ago, District 2 and District 11 created a Fire and Emergency Medical Protection Agreement Contract between each other in which they share mutual aid services. This Contract is still present.

2. My priorities are to ensure that grants are being applied for to secure more funding for training, equipment, supplies, and the Emergency Crisis and Disaster Preparedness Plan. These are necessary tools for our Fire Fighters and Emergency Medical Teams to be able to provide our community services. Considering the events that occurred last year in our blackout, I am going to also focus on creating a central hub for our residents; this will ensure that they have access to the items needed in an event of a crisis or disaster. These priorities will additionally secure that North Highline Residents continue to receive the excellent services that our Fire Department and Emergency Services Team already provide.

South King Fire and Rescue

(Des Moines/Federal Way)

Commission Position 1

Gary C. Bollinger

Did not respond.

William (Bill) Gates*

Did not respond.

Highline Water District

1. What is your top priority upgrading or maintaining aging district facilities?

2. How would you fund capital improvement projects?

Commission Position 2

(Short and full term)

Scott Hilsen

1. Upsizing and/or replacing the asbestos cement water mains is the top priority for the Highline Water District. Asbestos cement pipe, when it breaks, fails dramatically. Highline Water has about 80 miles of asbestos cement water mains, which cost approximately $1 million per mile to replace. Wells, treatment plants and reservoirs are in good shape. Please vote against the SR509 expansion to I-5, which will cost the Highline Water District about $3 million just to re-route existing water lines.

2. Utilize Public Works Trust Fund Loans from the State of Washington because the interest rate is 1/2 percent to 1 percent. If those funds are unavailable, then finance through bonds. It is preferable to spread capital costs over 15 to 20 years to maintain stable rates.

Dan Johnson*

1. Since the "ratepayers" own the District, my top priority is the same as always - to get the best value and return on investment for those I represent. At Highline, we have an aggressive program in place to upgrade and maintain our infrastructure. We have money set aside to proactively replace before it becomes necessary to repair.

2. Capital improvements are funded in the most fiscally appropriate way. We are able to fund many projects through our reserve account. For larger projects, we apply for Public Works Trust Fund loans (interest rates as low as 1/2 percent). If that money is not available, we have the ability to sell very attractive bonds due to our excellent S&P AA bond rating.

Position 4

George Landon*

Unopposed

Water District 20

Commission Position 2

(short and full term)

Gary Coy*

Unopposed

Water District 49

Commission Position 2

1. What is your top priority upgrading or maintaining aging district facilities?

2. How would you fund capital improvement projects?

Earl T. DeWitt 242.0272

David G. Lutz*

Did not respond.

Position 3

(unexpired 2-year term)

Tom Jovanovich*

Unopposed

Water District No. 54

Commission Position 2

John H. Rayback*

Unopposed

Southwest Suburban Sewer District

1. What is your top priority upgrading or maintaining aging district facilities?

2. How would you fund capital improvement projects?

Commission Position 2

John Jovanovich

Did not respond.

Bill Tracy*

1. My top priority for upgrading and maintaining our aging district facilities is to have an accurate picture of what needs to be done. To that end, we have obtained new equipment, which led us to develop our current rehabilitation of Chelsea Park and Seahurst Beach. This ongoing process started with Regal Heights and Marion Heights. We also have made and continue to make improvements at both treatment plants.

2. Funding for capital improvements has largely come from low-interest Public Trust Fund Loans, which we have been granted reaching over $6 million. We will continue to apply for these funds as well as pursue bond measures. If the other choices are not feasible then we might have to adjust our rates.