Achievements

Achievements as City Councilmember
1994 - 2003

Improved City Transportation and Transit:

Successfully lobbied for $18 million in State grants and $2 million in County grants for Coal Creek Parkway to reduce congestion and improve safety.
Negotiated $7 million commitment for Newcastle Transit Center in the Regional Transit Authority's "Sound Move" Plan adopted by the voters.
Introduced traffic calming into Newcastle neighborhoods, reducing traffic speeds and volumes, and improving street safety.

Improved City Amenities:

Successfully convinced the Issaquah School District to site a local elementary school in Newcastle.
Increased personal safety—more officers, more police cars—and faster response times in our neighborhoods than ever before. Newcastle now has at least one police officer in the City 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Improved and expanded Lake Boren Park; built new neighborhood parks ― China Creek Park, Redman Park and Donegal Park. Required developers to commit to build neighborhood parks in all new residential developments, resulting in two new parks in the Highlands, three new parks in the Reserve, and two new parks in the China Falls neighborhood.
Built new urban trails― like the Lake Boren Esplanade, adjacent to Coal Creek Parkway―and new natural trails―like the Golf Course Trail―to improve pedestrian circulation and create walking connections between neighborhoods.

Restrained City Spending and Increased City
Revenue Opportunities:

Kept Newcastle property taxes within reasonable limits to fund basic urban level services.
Contracted for essential services—Police, Fire and Emergency Medical services—at costs below that of providing direct services.
Successfully lobbied for new legislation to increase State Equalization revenues for Newcastle and 170 other small Washington cities.