Tag Archives: City Politics

Position 3 Questionnaire: Minal Ghassemieh

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Minal Ghassemieh

Questionnaire

Name: Minal Ghassemieh

Position: 3

General

Why are you running for Sammamish City Council?

I am running for Sammamish City Council because I am competent to tackle the issues and compassionate about our growing community.  I am competent because I have great deal of education and experience to offer in leading the residents of Sammamish.  I also offer a strong but compassionate voice being a mom, attorney, and lifelong community organizer.

I was born and raised in Washington State.  I received my Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Washington School of Business and Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University School of Law.  I have spent the last nine years practicing immigration law, and providing pro bono services to low-income clients.  I am Board Chair of API Chaya, a Seattle-based agency that provides services to survivors of violence. In sum, I am a competent and compassionate individual who will advocate for fair policies that benefit our entire community.

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Position 3 Questionnaire: Karen Howe

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Karen Howe

Karen Howe

Sammamish City Council Position 3

General

Why are you running for Sammamish City Council?

Public service is a way to make a positive difference in our community. I want to contribute my skills to add resources for Sammamish, such as substantial grants and partnerships to offset costs, and to help preserve our “livability.”

Managing growth means careful, data-driven assessments to ensure growth pays for growth and that ordinances protecting the environment are strengthened and adhered to.

Choices we make now will dictate the future of the City for decades to come. I’ve lived and volunteered here for 25 years. I want to put my senior management and fiscal experience to work on our growth and traffic challenges.

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Position 3 Questionnaire: Karen Moran

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Karen Moran

Name: KAREN MORAN               

Position: #3

General

Why are you running for Sammamish City Council?

I have been involved in the Sammamish area for 30 years.  I was one of the two that filed for our incorporation. I have sat on the Planning Advisory Board (helping write our city’s comprehensive plan), Parks Commission, Planning Commission, KC Eastside Metro Transit Committee and currently am Water Commissioner for Sammamish Plateau Water.   I have experience and knowledge that I believe is extremely valuable at this juncture in the to the city’s development.

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Position 1 City Council Candidate Questionnaires today

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Today Sammamish Comment publishes the candidate questionnaires of Position 1 for City Council.

Note that because there are only two candidates seeking this position, they do not appear on the Aug. 1 primary ballot. However, Sammamish Comment believes it is only fair that all candidates respond to the questions at the same time.

Position 1

The candidates for Position 1 are Mark Baughman and Jason Ritchie.

The candidate responses are printed verbatim. The Comment only checked their responses for spelling and grammar. Each response is in its own post, so scroll down on The Comment’s Home Page to see each response.

The responses were reviewed and processed by Scott Hamilton.

Position 1 Questionnaire: Mark Baughman

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Mark Baughman

Questionnaire

Name:                  Mark Baughman

Position:              Position 1

 General

Why are you running for Sammamish City Council?

My wife and I have lived on the Sammamish Plateau since 1997 and have seen the inception and development of the City of Sammamish and the simultaneous and continuing development, growth and changes to our community during these 20 years. I experienced the angst with King County that ultimately lead to the founding of our City and the aspiration that local control would provide the opportunity to greatly improve the prioritization of local projects and the level of service from local government. Much of this vision has been accomplished through the dedication of many of our City leaders over the past 18 years. Now that there will be a significant transition in the City Council, I hope to lend my experience from the private sector to help guide the City’s path to continue in a long term, well planned trajectory of financially disciplined progress toward accomplishing those goals that were expressed in the founding of the City of Sammamish.

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