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.
Local resident Ken Glass writes in a letter to the editor that the current process of funding election campaigns creates an undeniable conflict of interest that could only be fixed by reforms — he's got two suggestions.
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!
Get your Halloween chills and thrills on Mercer Island, with these community events coming up this weekend and Halloween, Oct. 31.
The Islanders came out firing on all cylinders and six players found the net, led by Topher LeCrampe with four. The teams heads to California today to compete in the San Diego Open water polo tournament.
Sheriff Steve Strachan, a SeaTac resident with 25 years of experience in law enforcement, is running against former King County Sheriff's Office spokesman John Urquhart.
The former King County Sheriff's spokesman faces Interim Sheriff Steve Strachan for the King County Sheriff's job.
Former Chicago Firefighter and Mercer Island resident Gerry Kenny writes in a letter to the editor that it would be unwise to wait any longer to replace the 50-year-old Station 92 building.
The former King County Sheriff's Spokesman, a 30-plus year Mercer Island resident, faces Interim Sheriff Steve Strachan for the King County Sheriff's job.
Mercer Island Patch sat down with Island Books owner Roger Page to find out what's got him (figuratively) wearing his reading glasses.
Keep up with the latest City Council developments on Mercer Island Patch
The following information from Oct. 9-17 was supplied by the Mercer Island Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
Menchie's franchise owners Scott and Jen Baklenko welcome hundreds of patrons into their new location on Mercer Island for a free taste of frozen yogurt for the business's Oct. 20 Grand Opening.
The following homes are holding open houses this Sunday, Oct. 21.
Redmond Police seek new leads after officers were unable to find a masked suspect involved in a robbery at the Super Bright Carwash on the 8200 block of Avondale Way.
The National Weather Service is warning of possible thunderstorms, showers, hail and gusty winds as a storm moves over the Puget Sound and into the Cascades, changing to snow.
The EvergreenHealth Mammography Coach will be at the downtown Kirkland shop for a Girls' Night Out event celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The Kirkland Fire Department responded to an early morning fire that damaged a backyard sauna in the North Juanita neighborhood.
The Washington State Patrol said three people were injured during Friday's evening rush-hour in a car accident that briefly shut down all westbound lanes of Interstate 90, just east of the Interstate 405 interchange.
Shooting stars will be flying early in the morning Sunday.
Shooting stars will be flying early in the morning Sunday over Mercer Island. The Orionids meteor shower promises to be a show worth watching.