Election 2009
(2009-10-16)
Listen Now:
null
Susan Hutchison and Dow Constantine prepare for their debate at the KCTS-9 Studios in Seattle, on Thurs. Oct. 15, 2009.
Gary Davis photo.
Dow Constantine: "I am pro choice. My opponent is anti-choice. I've invested heavily, my time and effort, in making sure we have transportation choices in this county. My opponent's biggest contributors are suing to try to stop light rail from coming to the Eastside."
Susan Hutchison: "My opponent will continually try to change the subject, so that we don't focus on his responsibility for the worst financial crisis in our county history. He has said this election is about abortion rights. It is not."
And they were off, jousting for the hearts and minds of those county voters still undecided who will determine the winner of what's considered a close race.
Hutchison echoed her campaign theme that County government is broken and wasteful, and that Constantine, as council chair, is part of the problem. In response, he touted his experience as a tough budget reformer who has eased the county's fiscal pains, and as someone who can work across partisan lines.
There was a lot of focus on transportation issues. Both endorse the deep bore tunnel to replace the viaduct. On regional transportation topics, Hutchison says easing traffic congestion is a priority, including looking at time-saving route changes for Metro transit riders. Constantine said he wants to get going on deciding a solution for Highway 520, and hailed his work on the Sound Transit board, and said light rail's arrival is the dawn of a new era.
Dow Constantine: "The time for dithering in this region is over. We've turned the corner with the opening of Sound Transit. The "can-do" crowd is back in charge. We need to keep it that way."
Both candidates agreed to appoint a Bellevue representative to the Sound Transit board, an area some say has been snubbed by a Seattle-centric county government. Hutchison says that's an attitude she'd change.
Susan Hutchison: "We're going to collaborate, we're going to work together, and we're going to have a new day, as this county starts to respect those in the outlying areas of this county."
When it ended, the candidates shook hands, but not before bringing up values and charges of changing the subject in their closing remarks. Gary Davis, KPLU News, Seattle.
More KPLU Election '09 Coverage
© Copyright 2012, KPLU
