Here’s some qualifications requirements for potential candidates.

Please review the criteria thoroughly first before submitting your application.

1225 – Running for Public Office

Any citizen in the City of Tacoma may run for public office in the City if they meet the following general requirements.

They must:

Be a citizen of the United States,

Be a legal resident of the City of Tacoma for at least two years,

and if running for a district position, a resident of their district for one year immediately preceding the time of filing as candidate.

Be at least 18 years old on or before the election date,

Not be under a court order declaring mental incompetent, and

Not be serving a court sentence for a felony or election law violation.

I take it good grammar isn’t a requirement for being a lawmaker

Be careful, Jamie. Lashing out like this could come back to haunt you during the election.

Too late, Jamie, I already spontaneously noticed your electability last Thursday at the Community Gardens gathering. (If you’re that Jamie.) And that was without knowing about Mr. Stenger’s change of plans.

Given that this is now an open seat with no incumbent, I expect it to be highly contested with numerous candidates throwing their hats into the ring as with the Tacoma City Council Position No. 8

Here’s a potential, Ryan Mello lives in District 3.

Sounds like you know something. Do tell.

Mello does have ambitions and very strongly tied to influential people. His campaign for Metro Parks spent more that he was scheduled to make in the position… Though might be a good contrast to Lauren Walker. Interesting to note too that Mello’s boss (Darnielle) has already endorsed to remianing candidate.

My mistake. Sorry!

“Too late, Jamie, I already spontaneously noticed your electability last Thursday at the Community Gardens gathering. (If you’re that Jamie.) And that was without knowing about Mr. Stenger’s change of plans.”

Not that Jamie, I was unfortunately able to make the meeting. Though based on your comments, I’m interested to know what “that Jamie” did…

Tacoma could use more politicians like him, especially the fact that he’s not a politician. Tom was a great help in getting the city to take action on the streetcar. His passion and activism will be missed… as well as his potty mouth!

Here’s a little background information on these two people from I found on Google.

Ryan Mello

Tacoma Metro Parks Commissioner

Ryan Mello lives in central Tacoma and uses parks regularly for walking, hiking, playing volleyball, picnics and kayaking. Mello is an active volunteer in numerous organizations in Tacoma and beyond, often assuming leadership or board positions. As an AmeriCorps member, he helped implement the first-in-the-nation “Letter in Community Service” program for high school students to earn a varsity letter for service to their community.

See also the Steam Plant issue

Lauren Walker

Executive Director Office of South Sound Fair Housing

Fair housing relies upon protected classes covered under federal, state and local laws. Sometimes these protected classes can become confusing when a property or realty company owns rentals or homes for purchase across a large geographic area. Even individual landlords may own properties in areas that may be covered by not only the federal and state law, but also a county or city ordinance.

See also King 5 News Story on housing.

I’d like to see more diversity of background on the council. There are a lot of service providers. Let’s get some business owners on the Council, people who’ve made their way serving more than low income who understand the tremendous impact that all of the services have on our City. Those paying taxes are always asked to pony up even more when the budget doesn’t balance. Let’s look for some fiscal conservatives who are willing to cut even the feel good projects.

i think a full time council would be a huge benefit to the city—the issues here need the undivided attention of our public servants. those in office should not need to, nor in my opinion should they even have, another “real” job.

anything to counterbalance the bulky administrative side of the government. i’m actually amazed that our council as it currently is can even halfway keep up with all the b.s.

Suggest something new. A candidate that doesn’t push for low income housing, additional hand outs for their non profit business, or help with their realtor business. How about someone that actually commutes on I-5, pays property taxes, doesn’t work for the state or local government and doesn’t ask for a property tax break for their own residence?

as I suspected. Attached is my conversation with Ms. Walker about the accuracy of her bio on her web page. I posted my 1st question to Ms. Walker to this board. Here is her response:

From: Lauren Walker To: rbnguy98402@yahoo.com Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2007 8:24:16 AM Subject: Fwd: Ombudsman

“ I was Pierce County’s long term care ombudsman through the Department of Aging and Long Term Care in the early 1990s. The position still exists.

Please let me know if I can answer any other questions for you.”

I then wrote:

don’t you think it would be more accurate to state that, then?

Her response:

“An ombudsman is a problem solver and that’s what I was. Thank you for asking.”

So, she’s already starting her campaign by padding her resume to make it look as if she had more responsibility than she actually did. Maybe I’ll join the “draft Tom” group. At least you know where you stand with him.

Erik, good question – her website (www.laurenwalker.org) doesn’t say “long term care” it just says ombudsman, implying a much broader responsibility than the actual position possesses.

I don’t really have an opinion as to whether Ms. Walker would make a decent Councilmember — it just amuses me to see the campaign bloviating.

Ryan Mello has proven to be a thoughtful and responsive elected official. My own experience working with him at Metro Parks showed me that he has a great deal of integrity. Ryan would be an excellent choice. Stenger has had the opportunity, and I think it is time to move on toward a more collaborative approach to governance.