Last week the Municipal League of King Country released its ratings of 113 primary candidates running for local offices, including County Executive, County Council, Port of Seattle Commission, Mayoral and City Council races for Auburn, Kent, Seattle, and Sammamish.
The Municipal League did not undertake a review of the candidates for Issaquah City Council.
The ratings are based on four criteria: knowledge, involvement, effectiveness and character.
They assess each candidate’s potential to be effective in office and their ability to serve the community.
Political affiliations or stands on specific issues are not considered and candidates are not rated against each other.
The Municipal League ratings of the candidates for Sammamish City Council were:
Pos. 1
John James: Adequate
Erica Tiliacos: Very Good
Pos. 3
John Curley: Good
Thomas Vance: Very Good
Pos. 5
Don Gerend: Outstanding
Michael Rutt: Adequate
Pos. 7
Jack Barry: Adequate
Tom Odell: Good
For more information on the ratings, including candidate questionnaires, go to www.munileague.org/candidate-evaluations/previous-ratings/2009/sammamish-city-council
This year’s ratings are the result of the work of 65 citizens from throughout King County who volunteered for the Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Committee.
They studied the public record, reviewed candidate questionnaires, checked references and conducted live interviews with the candidates.
Each rating was carefully reviewed by the Municipal League’s trustees.
Candidates received one of six ratings: Outstanding, Very Good, Good, Adequate, Not Qualified, or No Active Campaign.
The Municipal League attempted to contact every candidate. Candidates were rated even if they declined to participate in the process.
This year’s Candidate Evaluation Committee conducted interviews in Seattle, Bellevue and Renton, and was led by Gabe Meyer, Chair of the Candidate Evaluation Program.
The Municipal League of King County is a nonpartisan volunteer organization that has worked to ensure good government that is open, effective and accountable since 1910.
