Shelli Park Announces Resignation From Burien City Council Race – Endorses Joey Martinez and Lauren Berkowitz
Arts Commissioner Shelli Park, who announced her run for Burien City Council on April 29th, released a letter Monday morning stating that she has decided to push off her run for a council seat until 2015.
In her letter, Shelli stated that she has come to the conclusion “after serious consideration” and that she “cannot do a responsible job as a City Council member” until her design business, Crimson Park Design, is in a more stable position.
The Burien Arts Commissioner took the opportunity to endorse Planning Commissioner Joey Martinez and candidate Lauren Berkowitz.
Commissioner Martinez has filed to run for City Council position #7, the seat currently held by Mayor Brian Bennett. Mayor Bennett announced earlier this month that he made the discussion with his family not to run for Council again and endorsed Martinez to fill his Council seat. Commissioner Martinez recently released a letter asking Burien residents to support him in his race against candidates Steve Armstrong and Chuck Rangel stating that “Together, we can build a better Burien.”
Candidate Lauren Berkowitz is currently running against Council Member Jack Block, Jr. and southeast Burien resident Kip Walton. Berkowitz announced her candidacy for City Council position #1 on March 14th and stated “We need new leaders to move Burien into the future… Our community has so much potential. It’s time to begin realizing it.” (more…)
Updated: Election Filing Week Comes to an End – 2013 Primary Election Burien City Council Candidates
Lake Burien Resident, Steve Armstong, Announces Candidacy for Burien City Council Position #7
The following letter of candidacy was released by Steve Armstrong on May 17, 2013. Armstrong has filed to run in the King County Primary Election against Planning Commissioner Joey Martinez and Olde Burien resident Chuck Rangel for Burien City Council position #7 which is currently held by Mayor Brian Bennett. You can find more information about upcoming election here.
Hello my name is Steve Armstrong and I am running for Burien City Council / Position 7. I’ve lived in Burien for over 40 years. Attended Shorewood Elementary, Cascade Middle School, Evergreen High and the University of Washington. My children, Alex and Elena, attended local schools – St. Francis, Highline and JFK. I am currently employed by The Boeing Company (32 years) specializing in Contracts. My hobbies include: hiking, mountain climbing, fly fishing, tennis, volleyball and spending time with my family and friends.
I’m running for city council because I believe it’s time for a change and that I can help initiate this change. It appears that some Council members and the City Manager have lost touch with the citizens of Burien. Recent evaluations from the City Council are mixed as to whether the City Manager is performing to expectations. Council members do not (or will not) work together. This condition must change.
There has been a complete disregard for the voice of the people. An example is the attempt to annex Area Y. My aversion to annexation is based solely on economics and the best interests for all. Seattle, with a huge revenue / tax base, found it impractical to annex at the time. Why would our City Manager and some Council members believe that annexation was in the best interest and would enrich the lives of those living in Area Y as well as Burien? (more…)
Joey Martinez Officially Announces Campaign For Burien City Council – Asks For Support in “Building a Better Burien”
33 year old Burien Resident Joey Martinez has filed for Burien City Council seat number 7. The seat is currently filled by Brian Bennett, who has decided not to run for re-election. Bennett has endorsed Martinez for the seat.
Martinez has been married since 1999 to Jackie Martinez and has two boys, both of whom attend Highline Public Schools. Martinez has volunteered for both of his boys sports teams in one way or another all their lives. He’s spent the last two years volunteering with the Burien Bearcats, first as an assistant coach then as the Head Coach for one of the teams.
Martinez has worked for Seattle City Light since 2007 and was recently promoted as supervisor to a new business unit within City Light IT. Martinez has also worked for the city of Auburn from 2001-2005.
Martinez was born in East Los Angeles, California and is a 1st generation Mexican-American on his mother’s side and 3rd generation on his fathers side. Joey is fluent in both English and Spanish, and Spanish is actually his first language.
Says Joey, “I am looking forward to working with you to Build a better Burien! Together, we can accomplish much if we stick together. My life experience as a father has taught me to be firm and patient, as a husband to listen and care, as a son to always work to improve myself, and as a friend to always be there. As a Burien Planning Commissioner I have also learned to think 20 years into the future and have come to see that actions taken today can impact us for generations. (more…)
Burien Mayor Brian Bennett Announces He Will Not Run For Reelection – Endorses Joey Martinez for Seat
At the 34th District Democrats meeting and candidate forum held Wednesday, May 8th, at the Fauntleroy Hall in West Seattle, Joey Martinez announced that he will be running for Burien City Council seat #7, the seat currently held by Mayor Brian Bennett, in the coming 2013 Burien City Council elections.
In an interview with Mayor Brian Bennett following the Burien candidates’ forum, he stated that he made the decision with his family not to run. “Joey is a strong candidate and I believe he will make a great City Council Member for Residents of Burien.”PDC: Burien City Council Candidate Marlene Allbright in Violation of Washington State Disclosure Law
Burien City Council Candidate Marlene Allbright is being investigated by Washington State’s Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) after violating Washington State law by failing to to file a financial statement and a declaration of candidacy.
Arts Commissioner Vice Chair Andrea Reay Announces Candidacy for Burien City Council
The following letter was sent to Burien Daily by Burien Arts Commissioner Andrea Reay on Monday, May 6, 2013 to announce her candidacy for the Burien City Council in the coming 2013 election.
It is time to move Burien forward, it is time for a fresh perspective, and it is time to announce my intention to run for Burien city council. Our city has become a micro chasm of the national political scene, where our leaders fail to produce the results we deserve as citizens. The inaction on the council and the public infighting has become more than just an embarrassment to our city. It has become a public relations problem that could potentially affect everything from our home prices to whether new businesses choose to do business in our city, and it is inexcusable. It is time to remember who your municipal leaders work for, it’s time to put the past behind us and move forward together to a brighter future.
I am not a politician, I am a working mother. My priorities have always been and will continue to be with my family, my friends and neighbors, ensuring we all have a safe and vibrant place to live our best lives. I will work actively to encourage business and development in town square and throughout the city to create good jobs and revitalize our local economy. I will do this by fostering relationships with like minded organizations, advocating for arts, cultural and heritage groups, creating partnerships and events that will increase our cultural footprint, thereby making Burien more of a destination city. I will focus on positive impacts that we can make now to improve our environment for us and for future generations by improving our storm water system. I will do this by increasing awareness, and access to education. I will promote a culture of transparency within the city in order to restore the trust and faith we need in our municipal leaders by increasing communication with citizens and empowering our advisory boards with more direct interaction with the council. But, most importantly, I will listen to you, my friends and neighbors. The time for playing political games is over; we need positive change and we need it now. (more…)
John Upthegrove Resigns as Burien Planning Commissioner – City of Burien Accepting Applications to Fill Position
John Upthregrove, a Burien resident since 1970, has resigned from the Burien Planning Commission after serving three of the four years he was appointed to by the Burien City Council.“The Planning Commission is a lot of work and I’m an old guy. I’m an old fart and not young anymore like Brooks (Stanfield) and Joey (Martinez). I’m just retiring more than resigning and don’t have any criticism of the City… I’m visually impaired and the City staff has been nothing but great… I would never complain about them because they have been nothing but accommodating to my needs. If I want anything printed about me retiring, it’s that the City staff has been great to work with.”