Lynne Robinson should be re-elected to the Bellevue City Council for many reasons, but one that stands out after spending time with her and her opponent in the race for Position 6 is the other’s candidate’s prickly demeanor.
Microsoft assistant general counsel and neighborhood activist Steve Fricke is passionate about prioritizing neighborhood interests and feels the incumbent doesn’t do that enough. But his communication style could get in the way of the council’s collegial, consensus-building approach.
After a successful four-year term on the council, Robinson says she is under pressure from Fricke, who wants to stop any city action that neighborhood groups oppose, most recently the proposal to build a permanent men’s homeless shelter next to the Eastgate Park and Ride.
The Bellevue City Council has been criticized for the process it followed toward this much-needed shelter, but the city and the region clearly need to move forward on the project.
During her tenure, Robinson, a physical therapist and small-business owner, has focused on affordable housing, human services and the environment. She encouraged Bellevue to join the King County Cities Climate Collaboration. She helped establish a city-owned business incubator. She proposed a property tax exemption, which was passed by the council, for apartment complexes that include affordable housing and has more ideas for expanding affordable housing. And Robinson has been involved in developing a new bike and pedestrian trail system, and is seeking both low-tech and high-tech solutions for traffic congestion.
With Robinson’s previous five years on the Bellevue Parks and Community Services Board and the Bellevue Network on Aging, she was deeply involved in the city before taking a seat on the council. She has a long volunteer résumé, including work at her church, in public schools, with Girl Scouts, Little League and youth theater.
She is clearly the right choice for Bellevue and should be reelected. … Read More