If he wants to feel good about it, keep a thousand and donate the rest to a homeless shelter, a food bank, and an organization that supports gay youths.

"As an economist—my bachelor's degree was in economics

(Can everyone just call themselves economists now or what? Do we need a linkage fee on people who start sentences with "as an economist?" Cause it's happening a lot this year...)"

Wait, how many candidates have actually majored in Economics at an accredited university ? I think they can use the phrase when they've achieved a degree in it, sure. BTW, how many of the writers there have a degree in Journalism ?

What a dick.

I'm sickened by this industry donation possibly reshaping this race. And, while I disagree with the guy on rent-control and linkage fees--and, sure, he sounds a little unpolished and perhaps not all that savvy, studied on the range of Council issues or academically bright--he also seems like a hard-worker and an honest and decent guy. Actually. Sigh.

Noted my neighbor, who is a local GOP leader, had a Kris Lethin sign. I always use his yard signs to tell me who not to vote for.

Umm.... No.

The National Association of Realtors is a relentlessly conservative business organization that backs republicans most of the time. They are likely backing him because they see him as a possible opportunity to resist any sort of rent control or low income housing programs. The Realtor organization would love to see completely unfettered and unregulated development, or as close as they can get to it. If they're backing Lethin that hard, then I'm against him.

Also, fuck his position on gay marriage. Sure, it's nice to see he's evolved a little bit, but wanting to keep his tepid support on the down low is like the Republicans not wanting to offend the racist block of their own party. He's got more evolving to do yet.

He's got my vote. We need someone to counter the economic illiteracy of Sawant and her ilk.

Actually, I believe Councilmember Sawant is the only candidate running for City Council (certainly the only one in the race for District 3), who has an advanced degree, a PhD, in Economics. So... I don't think "economic illiteracy" is actually something you can accurately pin on her.

@2 actually to be considered an expert he would have to either have worked as economist or have an advanced degree. Economics is one of the easier business degrees (the next hardest is usually Finance, finally with the hardest being accounting), so a BA in Economics without teaching or working as an economics means he remembers some classes from school.

I don't have a problem with him originally be against same sex marriage to begin with, people change (and full disclosure I am in a same sex marriage). People change, and as long as its a real change I am good.

@7 Sawant is qualified to call herself an economics expert, you may dislike her socialistic outlook (honestly I don't, I am for it but then again I only have an accounting degree and 10 years in the field as an auditor of government agencies and for the DoD). However she has presented solid economics finding, contrary to what the media would have you believe economics is not solely about capitalism and in fact they are finding that some non-capitalistic theories in economics holds out for the middle class way better than capitalistic kind.

@8 & 9: the minute you start talking about rent control, you've exposed your economic illiteracy no matter what degree is on your wall. I support her on the minimum wage, but rent control is demonstrably counterproductive everywhere its been tried.

This is pretty much the 1st time I had herd him, not even in consideration.
He should be embarrassed.
I guess the writers of the check are unaware of why the council was broken into districts.
There are candidates in this race that are absolutely trying to meet people and get a broad understanding of what the largest district is about.
It's not a hobby.

He's pure scrum if he takes the money. I'll work against him

@10--That's not correct. European countries/cities have some very successful—and popular—rent control laws. But they are social democracies, and even leaning toward democratic socialism here and there. And saying rent control is "demonstrably counterproductive" is an insult to the thousands of people in NYC and SF it has enabled to stay in their homes.

Reverse Polarity @6 is correct, if perhaps too level-headed. Allow me to add my hysterically emotional two cents:

Organized real-estate wields more right-wing political power and corruption than most people realize. I would say they cause more direct harm to people's lives than organized religion. Why do you think Seattle has become one big unaffordable condo development? Real-estate developers and the organizations that support them always focus on buying candidates and corrupting city councils. The National Association of Realtors is essentially a storm-trooper branch of the National Chambers of Commerce, an organization so darkly right-wing, so devoted to turning every atom on Earth and beyond into profit-making capital, it makes the Department of Defence look like a socialist summer camp (apologies to any socialists out there).

Any friend of the NAR is no friend of mine.

The Stranger hasn't paid attention to North Seattle so why would we?

And saying rent control is "demonstrably counterproductive" is an insult to the thousands of people in NYC and SF it has enabled to stay in their homes.

This is a silly thing to say. The critique of rent control never claims it helps no one, ever. The critique is that it fails to provide for housing affordability going forward, for a variety of reasons, most of which are unintended consequences. Of course it benefits winners of the time/place lottery. No one denies that, and it doesn't "insult" them to acknowledge that while the policy has benefited them, it hasn't benefited society. As a moderately affluent white male, I can identify a number of policies that benefit me and people like me, but aren't good for society. Because I'm not a petulant child, I'm not insulted when that's pointed out.

I met with Kris a couple weeks ago, and I came away very concerned that we would all be worse off if he is elected. He had just come from a meeting with some developers, and shared that he felt linkage fees would halt development in Seattle, and that it was necessary to continue to build extremely high end luxury units or those upper end buyers would buy middle end units, and then the poor would end up with nowhere to go. The idea that we need to actually create more housing for low and middle income individuals wasn't brought up other than in passing - the emphasis was on pleasing developers and their high end clients. He said this was basic economics; I remain unconvinced that a Bachelors in Economics is sufficient to speak to the overall impact of such challenging and complex issues as Seattle's housing situation, and I would have been comforted if he'd been aware of those limits as well. Finally, he said government isn't in the business of showing compassion. I'm not sure who he is expecting to show compassion, though - because I'm sure not counting on his developer friends to step in.

I can't believe you guys are actually writing about North Seattle. And since when did 85th Ave NE start getting considered "way-North Seattle" ?

Why put in a new North Seattle precinct when Seattle can't even staff the one that's here already? This is one of the areas of the highest property crime, yet the North Precinct only has 2 officers handling all property crimes, and it's tough enough even just getting an officer out to make a report, FORGET them bothering to dust for fingerprints or gather any evidence unless MAJOR injuries are involved or a chain business was the target!

Ahhh, lay off Kris. The fund raising fund raisers are always beholden to special interest groups. The Stranger just has a favorite in the race and is trying to throw rocks at anyone that might be making steps towards bumping her from the race. It's hypocritical to have a problem with realtors but not real estate lawyers...