October Membership Meeting

The Breakfast Group Monthly Member Meeting will be held Thursday, October 8th, 2015 @ 7:30am
First A.M.E. Church: 1522 14th Avenue, Seattle Washington 98122
 

Annual Politics and Candidates Forum

This is our Election Year Candidates Forum dedicated to local political issues and elections.  We will be joined by six candidates for City Council as well as the King County Executive, Dow Constantine.

Please see below for links to the campaigns and information about the candidates that have confirmed their attendance at our meeting to present their campaigns to our members.

As King County Executive Dow Constantine will be speaking on the Best Starts for Kids initiative, we have a very tight schedule for this meeting and will begin promptly at 7:50 am.  We ask that our members plan to arrive by 7:15 in order to meet the candidates individually prior to the program opening.
 

Dow Constantine

King County Executive

Dow Constantine was re-elected in 2013 by the largest margin of victory ever recorded for the office of King County Executive.

His second term is focused on meeting two of the greatest generational challenges of our time: building equity and opportunity, and confronting climate change. Guiding every initiative is the goal of becoming the most forward-looking and best-run government in the nation. 

He will make a presentation to inform our membership regarding the Best Starts for Kids ballot initiative this election cycle, and what it means for our community and organization.

Best Starts for Kids will support children and families, from pregnancy through the critical early years, with early intervention mechanisms to help kids grow into healthy and successful adults. Best Starts for Kids will help the next generation get on the right track early by investing in prevention, saving money, and saving lives.

Again, please be prompt with your arrival to the meeting.  We have a very tight schedule and want to give each candidate sufficient time to present their campaign to our organization. 

See you Thursday!

 

Candidates for City Council
District # 3

Kshama Sawant’s election to the Seattle City Council in 2013 made history as the first socialist elected in Seattle in 100 years. As a councilmember, she delivered on her campaign promise to make Seattle the first major city to pass a $15/hour minimum wage.

A consistent voice for working people, Kshama has stood up against big business on the City Council, and won a series of progressive victories.

Pamela Banks is a 35 year Seattle Resident and former President of the Garfield High School PTSA. She has spent 30 years advocating for Seattle's communities and small businesses in her work with the City of Seattle.

She is currently President and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, which offers vital education, housing, and employment services to Seattle's communities of color.
 

Candidates for City-Wide Council
District # 8

Tim Burgess is a member of the Seattle City Council, former journalist, and Seattle Police Department detective.

Burgess was first elected in November 2007. He was re-elected to a second four-year term in November 2011. Burgess chairs the City Council's Education and Governance Committee and is vice-chair of the Planning, Land Use and Sustainability Committee.

Jon Grant is a leading advocate for tenants’ rights. As a social justice activist, Jon Grant is the recent Executive Director of the Tenants Union of Washington State, and a prominent voice against displacement and skyrocketing rents.

Jon’s policy platform includes economic relief for renters and homeowners, greater police accountability, and campaign finance reform to level the playing field against "moneyed interests in politics." 
 

Candidates for City-Wide Council
District # 9

M. Lorena González is a nationally recognized attorney, civil rights leader, and has recently served as a senior advisor and legal counsel to Seattle Mayor Ed Murray.

Before working for the Murray Administration, Lorena represented women, older workers, low-wage workers and people of color in employment, wage theft, and gender discrimination cases.  In the past year, she has helped set policy and implement historic minimum wage and worker protections alongside the Mayor, unions and progressive leaders throughout Seattle.

Bill Bradburd was a leader in Seattle Districts Now, He helped bring districted City Council elections to Seattle, which voters approved in an historic landslide in 2013.   He has been a consistent advocate for a City Council that recognizes that Seattle is a city of neighborhoods.

After a career in high tech, He became interested in public service as a way to give back.  In addition to he community leadership, He has worked as an artist and musician, and as a full-time kid-wrangler.  

    AGENDA

7:30 AM         Prayer Circle and Announcements

7:50 AM         King County Executive Dow Constantine

                           Candidate's Forum

8:00 AM        City-wide District # 9: Lorena Gonzalez and Bill Bradburd

8:20 AM         City-wide District # 8: Tim Burgess and Jon Grant

8:40 AM         District # 3: Kshama Sawant and Pamela Banks

9:00 AM         Adjourn