In today's Seattle Times, Joni Balter handicaps the backroom dealings to appoint a successor to departing Seattle City Councilmember Jim Compton: "Cranking up the intrigue at Seattle City Hall"
The betting person says the next council member will not be a white male because the council is light on females (seven men, two women) and light on minorities (two).I don't believe that a person's gender or ethnicity is relevant to their ability to represent me or perform in office. But if we take Balter's argument to its logical conclusion, she would have to agree that the best candidate for the job is ... my wife --
According to U.S. Census data, Seattle is 67.1% White, 9.7% Black and 16.6% Asian, with 6.6% of mixed race and other groups. There are also 6.3% Hispanic divided among the racial groups. Given that there are 9 seats on the City Council, the Whites should get 6, the Blacks 1 and the Asians 1, with the remaining seat rotating among the Asians, the smaller minority groups and the people of mixed race, perhaps favoring a Hispanic when none of the other members have a Spanish-speaking ancestor. The Black seat is filled by Richard McIver. David Della, the son of Filipino immigrants, fills the Asian/Hispanic slot. Under Balter's criteria, the open seat should go to a woman of mainland Asian descent.
Balter doesn't say anything about ideological diversity, but unless she's completely unreasonable she would acknowledge that a healthy diversity of opinions is essential for a deliberative body. I'll observe that between 20% - 25% of Seattle voters vote Republican (both Dino Rossi and David Irons results were in this range), so 2 of the City Council seats should go to Republicans, yet there isn't a single Republican currently on the Council.
And that is why the logical choice for City Council is my wife. She's Korean-American and although she used to be a straight-ticket Democrat, she has moved to the center and has recently voted for both Republicans and Democrats. She's an attorney in the private sector, personable, practical, sharp as a tack and fiscally responsible. Okay, I'm biased, and I have no idea whether she's interested in serving on the City Council, so this is all tongue-in-cheek. But please -- the City Council should choose someone who thinks like my wife, whether or not they happen to look like her.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at December 22, 2005 11:24 AM | Email ThisYour quote is a misquote.
Posted by: swatter on December 22, 2005 12:32 PMI know everybody on the City Council. Actually, they're all pretty decent people, and by and large they are conscientious public servants.
But Stefan is correct. There needs to be greater ideological diversity. The problem, as I see it, is the nonpartisan nature of the elections.
If the Council races were partisan, and candidates could run as Democrats or Republicans or Greens or Libertarians or whatever, at least the voters would have a clear choice.
I'd darn sure favor that, even though I do not live in the city limits. I'm guessing that at least a few Sound Politics readers might agree.
Posted by: Ivan on December 22, 2005 01:26 PMBalter is such an idiot. She really thinks in those simplistic terms about keeping things even-Steven and having the right quotas.
The seat should sit empty until the voters have a chance to choose. The last thing we need is this group of idiots choosing a carbon copy of their kookie left wing politics.
Posted by: BananaLand on December 22, 2005 01:28 PMSo he got a good mix of M/F and colors. All but maybe one or two were lawyers. How about once in awhile an SecAg who actually grew a crop, or a SecDef who actually saw the elephant.
Posted by: JCM on December 22, 2005 01:58 PMAre you getting your braces off soon?
Posted by: willis on December 22, 2005 02:06 PMSince this is appointed, I would like them to think "outside the box". How about just a normal person that does not go to the cocktail parties, is not known in town, but is up on what is happening, is sharp and is willing to rollup their sleeves and start asking questions?
Hey, I think I am talking about the Shark.
Posted by: swatter on December 22, 2005 02:32 PMAsk anyone and they'll tell you that your comment wasn't perceived as 'harmless' snark; it was a gratuitous driveby 'garbage dump'. Some would even call it 'not grown up'. Maybe even you would consider it that if someone other than you had thrown the same trash. And Stefan hadn't even insulted you personally in his post.
Posted by: Michele on December 22, 2005 03:33 PMLeave the humor to Goldstein.
But on the other hand, its a start!
Posted by: Erik on December 22, 2005 04:23 PMI disagree with Evan, though... The races shouldn't be partisan. We should have districts. Maybe like the School Board. Nominate/Primary within districts, and then vote city-wide for the General.
That way we would be more likely to get a conservative from conservative neighborhoods of Seattle (I swear, they do exist!) or minority representatives from South Park or Chinatown.
Posted by: Mickymse on December 22, 2005 04:53 PMFor My RIGHT Friends:
Here's wishing all of You a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah and a Happy New Year!
My lawyer will be contacting you shortly.
I was eating a confection related to the winter festivities when I read your post. The humor contained in your missive caused me to inhale aforementioned confection. This caused discomfort and emotion distress. This emotional distress and discomfort was directly related the contents of your post and unwelcome and uncalled for greetings. I therefore hold you responsible.
LMAO
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Posted by: JCM on December 22, 2005 05:49 PM
Watchu talkin' 'bout, willis?
Stefan, leftists idea of diversity is all different kinds of colors and sexes, that think exactly like themselves. Besides, there must be some kind of payback and affirmative action for the eeevil legacy of white privilege.
I don't think the lack of diversity comes from non-partisan races...partisan labels are redundant in Seattle, being RAT, Green, and Maoist. I think the lack of diversity come from city wide elections. The same electorate determines outcomes.
Any humor generated by Goldfish is strictly involuntary.
How about one of me for Council- you can have 8 that live in Seattle and one that lives in Pierce County? Now that is diversity.
Posted by: swatter on December 23, 2005 07:29 AMExcellent, but where is the mediation (equality of banality) clause.
Thanks, Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah.
Posted by: Amused by liberals on December 24, 2005 11:03 AMHow could we possibly endorse your wife for City Council without you first having posted her picture? (not quite as tongue in cheek as your original post)
Posted by: EricR on January 10, 2006 01:52 PM