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.
Paula Glass, Luca Palermo, Gregory Larrabee, Werner Glass and Charlie Neff were all selected winners for their poetry by age group that they submitted to the store's "Poetry Pole".
Tyler Sherper, Dulce Moll and Madison Blackburn join 19 other high school girls from Washington state to compete in the U-19 US Lacrosse Women’s Division National Tournament in Stony Brook, New York, May 25 and 27.
Local senior citizen Claus Jensen writes in a letter to the editor that the re-striping of Island Crest Way from four lanes to three (between 86th Ave. SE south to 53rd Place) this summer won City Council approval in 2010 — but it's still a bad idea.
The Mercer Island High School Drama Department presents Thornton Wilder's classic and sentimental meta-play, May 3-5 and May 10-12.
The following information from April 11-26 was supplied by the Mercer Island Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
The Mercer Island Senior Foundation is co-hosting a performance of "Soldiers in Petticoats" and a celebration of the community's eldest residents at Mercer Island Congregational Church.
Vote in our poll and let us know in the comments.
SBA Regional Administrator Calvin W. Goings writes in a letter to the editor that young entrepreneurs are a valuable source of American innovation.
The following homes are holding open houses this Sunday, April 29.
SWAT teams have been moving cautiously, wary of possible booby traps, after locating a body in the bunker near Rattlesnake Ridge outside of North Bend, believed to be the hideout of Peter A. Keller, wanted in a double homicide and arson.
The DEA-sponsored event runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Hall.
King County Elections reported nearly 58 percent local turnout for Mercer Island's school bond vote and a 34 percent turnout overall.
Art work from 29 Mercer Island High School students completing the rigorous AP Studio Art program are on display at the Mercer Island Community and Events Center, April 23 - June 1.
Mercer Island's longest-running professional florist garnered the most votes in this week's Readers' Choice poll.
Real Estate professionals are hoping potential homebuyers will drop-in this weekend despite an unusually low number of homes for sale this spring on Mercer Island and the Eastside.
The SR 520 roadway and floating bridge between Seattle and Bellevue will close at 11:00pm Friday, April 27.
Here are some recommendations for tasty Mexican fare.
City engineers estimate the overall cost of the three-year water mains replacement project will at $2.5 million. Scheduled completion of the final phase of the project is set for Oct. 2012.
Vote in our poll and let us know in the comments.
David Baxter, Danae Burger and Bob Sagerson were nominated by their fellow teachers and selected by school principals, and were awarded $500 by the Mercer Island Lions Club.
