Issue statements from LFP council candidates Hammond and Kassover

By Evan Smith

Lake Forest Park City Council candidates David Hammond and Phillippa Kassover recently sent statements about what they think are the most important issues in this year’s election.

Hammond and Kassover are running in the Nov. 3 general election for the Council position that Jeff Johnson is giving up to run for mayor.

Here are Hammond’s and Kassover’s statements in the order that their names will appear on the November ballot and in the voters’ pamphlet.

Lake Forest Park City Council, Position 4

David Hammond

With only a few weeks remaining before ballots are mailed the campaign issue has boiled down to experience. I have spoken with many neighbors and their feedback has been they appreciate that I’ve served five years as a water district commissioner, fighting to protect the Lake Forest Park Watershed. People are concerned the city council has not been transparent about planning a trail through the McKinnon Creek Wellhead Protection Area. People appreciate that I’ve taken time to listen and understand issues then stand up for what is right. They also realize the city council will benefit from my financial management experience.

In addition to the overwhelming concern I’ve heard about protecting the watershed, people seem most concerned about three things: traffic, public safety, and zoning changes. They recognize these are the primary city responsibilities and they want the council to address them transparently and strategically.

Based on what I have heard from folks, and my own reading of the budget, I am concerned that the council has not done enough strategic financial planning. We are near the peak of the business cycle and need to do better planning for the next downturn. We need to communicate with residents about the choices we’ll be faced with and what they will cost. Calming cross-town traffic and improving walkways will be expensive, yet we do not currently have enough money to maintain our street surfaces. I’d like to thank all of the people who have chipped in to support me in this campaign.

Phillippa Kassover

While campaigning and visiting two thousand homes to hear residents’ concerns and hopes, I learned that we all want to keep LFP a welcoming, affordable, thriving place for residents and local businesses, while also protecting our beautiful Northwest environment. I heard deep concern about the number of trees lost this year to disease, damage and new development.

Residents also want improved options for getting around the city and better bus connections with the rest of the region. People are troubled about the increased traffic on our roads and deteriorating pedestrian and bike safety, especially for our school children.

As your city council member I will use my decades of professional experience to help build effective regional partnerships that benefit our city. I will be a strong voice for increased transit options, safer roads and highways and better transportation access. I will advocate for area park-and-ride facilities and safe bicycle parking for commuters at transit hubs and our city center.

I will collaborate with citizens and city council to improve ordinances to help residents preserve and manage healthy trees which protect air and water quality. We must also review zoning and development fees to make sure we don’t lose our city’s vision of a healthy, sustainable environment, and that developers are paying their fair share and supporting our city’s goals.

Many residents told me they feel uninformed. I want to work with our mayor and council to enhance communications between city hall and residents and encourage a stronger, more engaged community.