Posted by evergreen_senator at 7/31/07 9:49 p.m.

The Party of Commons has knowledge, regarding our lone endorsed council candidate, that either the Postal Service lost a letter, an e-mail went awry, or the Municipal League plays the same exclusivity game that the Seattle City Club practices. In other words, they decide which candidates -- not the mere qualification of being on the ballot -- are deemed acceptable to participate in their questionnaires, debates, forums, etc. It's power and money selecting their own candidates, with the candidates of the people being snubbed, as usual, from these Mainstream News Media-acknowledged events. It's not democracy, but it is a game.

[www.PartyofCommons.com]

Posted by THE David Blomstrom at 8/1/07 5:27 a.m.

Oh, wow, the Muny League is SO qualified to rate candidates; kind of like asking George W. Bush and Bill Gates to decide who should be appointed...er, elected...to office.

Posted by Sarajane3h at 8/1/07 12:12 p.m.

Actually, I think the Muni League does an excellent job of rating candidates in a non-partisan manner. I challenge any group to do it better, and any citizen who disagrees to volunteer for their panel next year. It's an open process.

I interviewed Seattle School Board candidates for another group. I was blown away by Sherry Carr's skills (as a Boeing Financial Manager), her involvement (as President of Seattle PTSA) and her depth of knowledge on school board policy issues, based on having served on a couple of task forces. She will bring much-needed light where there is too much heat. She will surely change the dynamic of this dysfunctional institution for the better.

Sitting school board members need to own the problem--that they as a group are the source of lack of trust by the public. Sally Soriano in particular needs to address her lack of understanding of board protocols. Board members (of any non-profit, commission or group) need to agree to publicly support board decisions, once they are made. To sue one's own board, as she did, is a violation of her duty to the board. She should have resigned in protest, since she felt that strongly.

I suggest that the Seattle School Board hire a consultant in non-profit Board Development who can help them understand their role. A Board's role is to set policy. Staff's job (under the new Superintentant) is to implement it. Anything at the level of a particular school or site is not policy, and therefore not the staff's business. Yes, it is important to listen to the community and to represent their concerns to staff. This is an important function of all non-profit boards. But forwarding community concerns is far different from sticking your nose in the staff's jobs. Please stick to policy issues. There's plenty for you to do.

Posted by THE David Blomstrom at 8/1/07 4:57 p.m.

"Actually, I think the Muni League does an excellent job of rating candidates in a non-partisan manner. I challenge any group to do it better, and any citizen who disagrees to volunteer for their panel next year. It's an open process."

LOL! The first time I ran for public office, my chief opponent was Nancy Waldman. Being naive, I agreed to attend the King County Municipal League's endorsement interview. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Nancy Waldman's husband - Seattle Mariners attorney Bart Waldman - served as the Muny League's president, CEO, or whatever title they use.

Please don't insult my intelligence by claiming the Muny League is a noble, non-partisan organization. If they were on the level, they wouldn't receive so much publicity in the Seattle Times, P-I and other corrupt media. Get a clue.

"I interviewed Seattle School Board candidates for another group. I was blown away by Sherry Carr's skills (as a Boeing Financial Manager)..."

Yeah, I bet you were."

Posted by unregistered user at 8/1/07 11:32 p.m.

I agree with the majority of the posters above. The Muni League spends too much of its "research" reading newspaper clips and blogs. I know, since I served on their interview squad for a couple of years. It's one thing to use those clips as one of mulitiple sources, but the "multiple" is very slim, and in Seattle, biased. Another thing is that many of the Muni League participants and voting members do, in fact, have bonafide conflicts of interest, as noted by THE David Blomstrom. I've seen PDC reports wtih contributions from board members, and then those same board members insist they are neutral? Not possible. The Muni League is a tired, failed organization that is no longer relevant.