Bertlin Launches City Council Campaign Promising 'Pro-active' Government

A new perspective. A pro-active city council. Integrity.

At her campaign launch event Sunday night at a private residence overlooking Lake Washington, Mercer Island City Council candidate is hoping those key phrases will serve as a catalyst for her election this November.

Speaking to a crowd of about 60 supporters and guests, Bertlin outlined her priorities as candidate and tried to draw contrasts between her and her opponent, current .

"Based on some of the recent economic conditions, I think based on national and regional politics, there's this sense of, 'Put your head down, and lets just try to get through the next few years.' and what I'm hearing from people and what I believe, is that we should take a proactive approach — a preventative approach."

The election is the only contested race of four council seats up for re-election after City Hall weathered several challenges over the past year. City funding dwindled as the Great Recession started affecting the local economy, and in response  for the biennium. Bertlin said she thought the public was seeking more transparency on where the council's priorities were on issues such as rebuilding the , and other that could involve the . To emphasize the difference between her and her opponent, she singled out a proposal she made as Open Space Conservancy Chair to build an intergenerational facility in Pioneer Park. Jahncke, she said, wasn't interested. 

"It's about stewardship. it's about taking the approach where I grew up on this Island, I was privileged to have so many of the fabulous quality of life conditions, the education, the facilities an and attitude of support."

Mercer Island Patch called but was unable to reach the Jahncke campaign on Tuesday afternoon.

A number of elected and former public officials were in attendance, including City Councilman Bruce Bassett, 41st District Rep. Marcie Maxwell, Planning Commission Chairman Adam Cooper and a former mayor — and current Deputy King County Executive Fred Jarrett. When it came time to ask for visitors to open their checkbooks and wallets to help fund the campaign, it was Jarrett to do the asking by invoking President Barack Obama's oft-quoted campaign phrase, "yes we can."

"Their view is, 'yes, I can,'" he said. "In our community, it's how government works together with non-profits, schools and other local organizations. That's what we need right now."

Mike Murphy, who along with partner Babits Faires was hosting the campaign party in his home, said something needed to be done about the council's laissez-faire style of managing city services. Among other issues, he cited a well-publicized building-heights battle he had with city staff over a neighbor's waterfront home redevelopment project on Boulevard Place. The home, owned by the Sandwith family, was expanded to over 13,000 square feet.

"Our interest is in city government, the planning commission and ultimately the City Council," he said. "They have regularly mishandled things like this."

Several supporters, like resident Carol Friends, also mentioned their disgust with city council members brought by former city administrator Londi Lindell. She said both Jahncke and Mayor Jim Pearman were named as a defendants in the Lindell case for their involvement in her firing, and expected them to go to trial to contest the allegations. Instead, earlier this summer to end the suit over claims of sexual harassment and retaliation in her dismissal, and for public records violations directly from city coffers. She saw that as a tacit admission of guilt.

"I kept waiting," she said. "I said 'We have to wait for the trial.' After (the settlement and the additional fine), I thought to myself, 'Well, there it is — I've been fair.'"