Issaquahpress102016

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Issaquah’s only locally owned newspaper

THE ISSAQUAH PRESS

117th Year, No. 42

Thursday, October 20, 2016

issaquahpress.com

Pro-bond group holds 5-to-1 edge in campaign contributions

Scott Stoddard / sstoddard@isspress.com

Issaquah Creek’s North Fork flows by Sammamish Plateau Water’s Well No. 7 near East Lake Sammamish Parkway.

WHO’S CONTRIBUTING TO THE BOND CAMPAIGNS? OneIssaquah

Eyes On Issaquah

Total contributions: $5,365

Total contributions: $1,014

CONTRIBUTORS

CONTRIBUTORS

RH2 Engineering Watts Properties Rowley Properties Daphne Ghan Stacy Goodman Paul Winterstein Fred Butler IAFF Local 2878 Jen Gray Cathy Allen Barb de Michele Mary Lou Pauly Tom Walker Essay Mentors Jeff Matson

$2,000 $1,000 $500 $300 $250 $250 $200 $200 $165 $100 $100 $100 $100 $50 $50

Bryan Weinstein Cory Christensen Charles Olson Dawn Weinstein Connie Marsh Robert Brock Susan Brock David Harris Toni Letendre Christopher Reh Nelson Enns Mary Lynch Eric Bentzen Janet Pinneo Althea Saldanha

Source: Documents on file with the state Public Disclosure Commission through Oct. 16.

$208 $100 $100 $75 $51 $50 $50 $50 $50 $50 $30 $30 $25 $25 $25

VOTE 2016

Amid the candidate yard signs lining the roadways in Issaquah this year, opposing bond campaigns are trying to sway voters. One group which supports the bond has received more than $5,000 in campaign contributions. Showing up on local ballots in November as “City of Issaquah, Proposition One, Traffic Improvement Bonds,” the $50 million transportation measure includes four projects the city says will reduce congestion, enhance safety and improve local streets. Eyes on Issaquah, a group opposing the bond, has collected $1,014 in campaign contributions, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. The pro-transportation bond group, OneIssaquah, has raised $5,365. In July, Mayor Fred Butler appointed six residents to “yes” and “no” committees for the transportation bond, three for each side. The City Council approved the appointments Aug. 1.

Minute amounts of contaminant detected in water near production wells

By Lizz Giordano lgiordano@isspress.com Water testing by Sammamish Plateau Water detected perfluorooctane sulfonate, commonly known as PFOS, in minute amounts in the North Fork of Issaquah Creek. Sammamish Plateau Water General Manager Jay Krauss, addressing the Sammamish City Council on Oct. 11, said even though the district doesn’t draw water from the creek, it was tested because of the proximity to the district’s wells. Sammamish Plateau Water and the City of Issaquah are both testing for perfluorinated chemicals

Two individuals contributed $20 each, one individual contributed $15 and four individuals contributed $10 each.

Mayor, city councilmembers among those giving to bond advocate OneIssaquah By Lizz Giordano lgiordano@isspress.com

PFOS found in Issaquah Creek’s North Fork

KEY DATES Oct. 19 King County mails general election ballots Oct. 20 Ballot drop boxes open Oct. 31 In-person voter registration deadline for new voters Nov. 8 Election Day: Ballots must be postmarked by this date or deposited in drop box by 8 p.m.

Two members of the “yes” committee for the bond, Keith Watts and Barak Rosenbloom, are also part of the newly formed OneIssaquah group. OneIssaquah was launched to support the transportation bond, and after the election it plans to continue with a ”commitment to improving the quality of life in Issaquah through advocating for sensible, community-based, and doable solutions,” according to the group’s website. The biggest contribution OneIssaquah received as of Oct. 16 was from RH2 Engineering, which gave $2,000. According to its website, RH2 provides civil engineering, planning and environmental services to public and private agencies. The company has been involved in past Issaquah infrastructure projects, including a pedestrian bridge in the Highlands and wetland discharge monitoring. RH2 also received at least $293,000 from the city for a water and sewer

See PFOS, Page 8

Front Street Market’s new owner says changes are in store By Stuart Miller smiller@isspress.com Now under new ownership, Front Street Market will keep its name but will see changes to the store and staff. The market reopened Oct. 7 under new owner Jimmy Kathawa, who moved from the Detroit metro area to Issaquah in September with his wife and children. Front Street Market will now be an IGA market, part of the Independent Grocers Alliance. IGA is an alliance that helps small family-owned markets

See BOND, Page 7

See MARKET, Page 2

Mullet-Magendanz race could decide control of state Senate VOTE 2016 This story is the final installment of a series profiling the races in the 5th Legislative District. Read previous coverage online at issaquahpress.com.

WE ASKED, THEY ANSWERED We put 15 questions about local and state issues to state Senate candidates Mark Mullet and Chad Magendanz. Read their responses on Page 9.

By Lizz Giordano lgiordano@isspress.com Republicans are seeking to preserve their one-seat majority in the state Senate, and the winner of the 5th District race this November could be the differencemaker. Aiming to help Republicans retain control of the chamber, state Rep. Chad Magendanz gave up his House seat to challenge Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Mullet, who is considered vulner-

Chad Magendanz

Mark Mullet

able in the otherwise-Republicanleaning 5th District. “It’s important for the 5th District to have someone in the

majority to represent them,” Magendanz said. “If you have someone who can chair committees, who can drive the agenda versus responding to the agenda, it makes a big difference.” With 26 of the Senate’s 49 seats up for re-election this November, either party could end up in control of the chamber. Mullet eked out a victory in the August primary, winning 50.6 percent to Magendanz’s 49.2 percent. Money has poured into the race, with both candidates raising

more than twice as much as the 5th District House candidates, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Mullet, a small business owner, has raised almost $400,000, making him the leading Democratic fundraiser this year in state legislative races. Magendanz, a freelance software design consultant, has raised almost $350,000. See SENATE, Page 9 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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