Fields, Marchione square off in mayoral candidates’ debate

Published 11:00 am Friday, October 16, 2015

On Wednesday evening, residents of Emerald Heights as well as the greater Redmond community gathered at the retirement community to watch the mayoral candidates’ debate.

The debate was organized by the local branch of the League of Women Voters with member Judy Love moderating the event. The candidates — Redmond Mayor John Marchione and challenger Steve Fields — answered questions that were submitted by audience members before the debate began.

The questions ranged in topics from city traffic and transportation to growth management to citizen involvement in city government. Candidates had two minutes each to give their answers.

When asked what they felt the three priority issues Redmond is facing, the candidates’ answers differed, but did have some overlap.

Marchione said the three issues are growth, traffic and poverty while Fields’ response was a lack of confidence in government, affordability and homelessness and growth.

The candidates also discussed how they would improve community input and council communication with citizens.

Fields said he has a plan for city officials to have dialogues with citizens, such as having scheduled meetings with neighborhoods on a regular basis.

In response to the question, Marchione acknowledged that getting people engaged in local government is difficult.

“People don’t react until the dirt’s being moved,” he said in reference to how people don’t always get involved before construction begins on projects.

Marchione added that he goes out to the schools in town to meet with PTSAs and council members will have booths at community events such as Derby Days.

He and Fields were also asked how they would improve traffic in Redmond.

Marchione said it is important to concentrate the city’s growth to its urban centers of downtown and Overlake because that will reduce cars on the road as people in those neighborhoods would be able to walk to go about their day-to-day business.

He added that traffic is a regional issue and Redmond is no better or worse off than surrounding jurisdictions.

Fields said he feels Redmond should be doing better than other cities and currently, the downtown core is not walkable or bikeable and he does not see anyone walking or bicycling.

“I do not feel safe,” he said about walking or bicycling in downtown.

And as the debate took place at a retirement community, the candidates were also asked about how they would create a more inclusive environment for senior citizens.

Fields said in the midst of all the development throughout the city, there are some groups that may be forgotten — unintentionally — such as seniors.

“We’re not thinking of everyone,” he said about the way things are being planned.

Fields said seniors are the city’s heritage and the community needs to be proactive in finding ways for everyone to live together. Downtown should be for all ages, he said.

In responding to the question, Marchione emphasized his vision to make Redmond a city where people of all ages can live. With seniors in particular, he gave examples of how the city is serving them, including recreation programs at the Redmond Senior Center and a new senior shuttle that is scheduled to be up and running in June.

Following the questions from the audience, each candidate got to ask their opponent one question. The candidates had two and a half minutes to respond.

Fields asked Marchione if the city needed to improve community engagement.

In response, Marchione said they always need to improve. And part of that improvement means providing multiple platforms for citizens to get involved and finding ways to make government interesting so people will get involved.

Marchione’s question for Fields was, if he is successful in the election, where does he see Redmond in four years.

Fields said in four years, he sees the city working in partnership with the community, with plenty of opportunities for citizens to engage. He said he also sees a more connected city with a real downtown urban center that is fun, small-business friendly and bikeable.

To watch the debate, click here.