Email: kendall.watson@patch.com
Phone: 206-455-1331
Hometown: Salem, UT
Age: 37
Bio: From 2006 to 2010, I've worked at newspapers in California and Washington state, including the Mercer Island Reporter in 2009 covering education and sports.
Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for us to inject our beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will cause editors to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics
How would you describe your political beliefs?
I'm a mixed bag. I strongly believe in the power of the government to act as a force for good and to improve people's lives. It is, after all, made up of people. But I also believe that our elected representatives should be held accountable and spend money they raise for the state carefully and wisely—they should conserve our resources for when we really need them. It is, after all, our money. And finally, we should always be thinking about how our actions affect others, now and in the future—both those we don't know and our loved ones living with us now, as well as our children and grandchildren not yet born.
Are you registered with a certain party?
I am not currently registered with a political party.
Religion
How religious would you consider yourself?
I consider myself a casual observer of the mystery of life, and enjoy the multitude of expressions in celebration of it. Heck, it's one of the main reasons I sought out a career in writing. I believe in this.
The local fashion and clothing retailer, owned by Michele Tesler, has pledged a portion of her holiday season profits to support the city's Youth and Family Services Department.
Local officials are hailing a series of major real estate sales in the past four months as a sign the local housing market is recovering
King County Elections officials tallied 15,261 votes from Mercer Island as it certified the final results from the 2012 General Election. Countywide, 978,377 (83.58 percent) of registered voters cast valid ballots in the general election.
The following information from Nov. 17-25 was supplied by the Mercer Island Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
Assuming the fog or clouds don't blanket the sky, the Puget Sound should be able to witness this year's last lunar eclipse Wednesday morning. It will be a "penumbral" eclipse where the outer edge of the Earth's shadow dims
Get in the spirit with these holiday themed events on Mercer Island, from carolers at Mercer Island Library to the Tree Lighting and Firehouse Munch at the Mercer Island Fire Department Station 91.
City Council increased the typical Mercer Island homeowner's taxes by $74.54 in 2013 and $91.51 in 2014 in taxes and fees — not including a voter-approved annual tax increase of $60.20 for the Fire Station/Truck levy.
The holiday shopping season is just around the corner, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has several tips to help increase your bottom line.
The Spokane native, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew H. Stiltz, died from wounds suffered in Afghanistan
Keep up with the latest City Council developments on Mercer Island Patch.
Passage of Initiative 502 will legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. Mercer Island City Attorney Katie Knight said police will follow current state law regulating the possession of marijuana.
Puget Sound Energy says most power outages so far are being quickly resolved by patrolling reported lines for downed tree limbs due to heavy rain.
Help prevent catastrophic damage from localized flooding by alerting city hall to potential landslides and keeping storm drains on your streets clear of leaves and other debris. Please tell us if you spot and issues!
The following homes are holding open houses this Sunday, Nov. 18.
Every Thursday we'll feature a photograph of something delicious from a Mercer Island restaurant. Be the first to guess the restaurant—and the dish—correctly on Mercer Island Patch, and win a prize!
AccuWeather.com meteorologists predict a "potent storm" could bring rain to the Seattle area and snow in the mountain passes in the days before Thanksgiving on Nov. 22.
Unlike many other neighboring cities and towns, politicians and initiative supporters on Mercer Island are not required by law to remove signs after the November General Election.
Thirty-eight homes and condos were sold on Mercer Island in October, with a median sales price of $821,800.
An unnamed FBI agent who initiated the investigation ultimately leading to CIA Director David Petraeus's resignation on Friday contacted Reichert this summer out of concern "officials were going to sweep the matter under the rug."
Islander Middle School parent Robin Wilt — whose son was subject to a "hostile environment", according to the ruling — slams the MISD's appeal as "hubris".
