Big Shots Meddle in Newcastle Politics

Drescher's Endorsers: Part 3

Who knew that this election for Position No. 6 in Newcastle was significant enough for renowned politicians like Rob McKenna, Adam Smith, Dave Reichert and Rodney Tom to stick their noses into, but sure enough here they all are.   I have been in campaigns on behalf of myself and fellow citizens since 1976 trying to bring common sense solutions to problems based on our national constitutional premises and our greatest values that have been around even long before 1776. 

As Attorney General, Rob McKenna didn't dare step into my legal battle with the King County Elections Director a few years ago even though I was legally obligated to notify him in his position as A.G.  Maybe, he agreed with my legal argument, as I'm one of the few, besides Dino Rossi, who has challenged the decisions of the Logan/Huff administrations, but considering that he's no political friend of anybody outside of his own upper echelon class, it's doubtful.

Rodney Tom is a slick charlatan who was once a Republican, turned Democrat, and then turned the tables on his new Democratic Party colleagues by getting in some kind of convoluted coalition with his old Republican chums.   Now, that gives the word "turncoat" a new spin.  What's he doing meddling in Newcastle politics?  He would be lucky to get elected Dogcatcher in his home district, let alone possibly entertaining thoughts about any statewide offices.

To complete this mediocre foursome of washed-up politicians endorsing John Drescher are congressmen, Adam Smith and Dave Reichert.  Adam Smith, from the corporate "Blue Dog" wing of the Democratic Party, helped to overturn the "Glass-Steagall" regulations on the banks in 1999, and thus gave "Wall Street" free rein to crash the economy, which they got around to doing in a big way in the Autumn of '08, and the economy hasn't recovered much since.  Smith is no Jimmy Stewart's "Mr. Smith" (regarding the old movie, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington").

Dave Reichert, the Republican congressman (CD 8) who apparently thinks that consciousness about the environment is mostly, if not only, important for political ends than any real problem that needs to be addressed for its own sake.  He got caught a few years ago making a statement about "the environment" and politics that belied him as no more than a typical politician, to put it nicely, as opposed to the earnest friend-of-the-environment that he wanted everybody to think he was.

In a League of His Own:  And Steve Litzow ... the District 41 State Senator is a weasel.  When I communicated with him a few years ago and supported him when he was in the process of unseating Randy Gordon, I had heard rumors that he was an unethical charlatan, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt, unfortunately.  I actually was able to give Litzow essential information that helped him win his close election over Gordon, but his endorsement of Drescher -- not even staying neutral -- is the "thanks" that I get.  I even wrote statements through a Seattle Times format lauding Litzow as an exceptional Republican (what a fool I was).  [Note:  John Drescher donated hundreds of dollars to John McCain's Republican presidential campaign; NPR believes it was for McCain's most recent presidential run.]  Litzow will never reach any statewide office with his record of duplicity, I think.

With "friends," of my opponent, like these, who needs endorsers?

-- Mark Greene, Candidate for Newcastle City Council, Position No. 6

[revised on 9/12/13]

Please vote for I-522 this November, YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW about whether of not the food you buy is genetically modified.

Drescher's Endorsers: Part 2

As N.P.R. has reported in "Drescher's Endorsers: Establishment - Check," council candidate, John Drescher, has received a number of endorsements from Establishment politicians (Mark Greene's support from the Establishment is less ostensible, and mostly from a few appointed officials).  One of Drescher's endorsers, Councilman Bill Erxleben is the most high profile promoter in Newcastle for dismantling Newcastle's independent status as a city and merging with Bellevue, but less known by the public is that Erxleben's sidekick, Gordon Bissett (another of Drescher's endorsers), also supports annexation, but kept that pretty well hidden until after the last local election.  Bissett didn't even go an entire year, since being elected to the Council in November, '11, before voting with Erxleben for annexation talks with Bellevue at the Sept. 4, 2012 council meeting.  Lest we forget, Bissett, like Drescher, also received big support from the Establishment leading up to the election.  So the public should be very aware of the sleight-of-hand where politicians whisper about annexation amongst themselves, and may even vote against talks, but openly support politicians like Erxleben and Bissett who are not so shy about announcing their real intentions about starting the process of being Bellevue's back yard.  This is called annexation-by-steps rather than one big dramatic move.  If you really want to keep Newcastle's independence, avoid following the endorsements of  the Establishment, and vote for Mark Greene.  Thank you!

Previous post (8/28/13): "Drescher's Endorsers: Establishment - Check"

Please vote for I-522 this November, YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW about whether of not the food you buy is genetically modified.

Drescher's Endorsers: Establishment - Check

We finally got a clear look at John Drescher's website today, and still could find no hint about his position about whether Newcastle should be annexed by Bellevue or not (if anybody sees something, please, contact us).  Mark Greene has been unequivocally against annexation ever since Councilman Bill Erxleben brought it up as an issue and proposed talks with Bellevue last September, but there was a list of all of Drescher's endorsements, and Erxleben was on it (that's a red flag right there if you want and insist that Newcastle remain independent, like we do).  Also, almost everybody on the Council, one councilmember excepting, endorsed Drescher (hint: N.P.R. will be endorsing Carol Simpson for mayor next Winter if she runs).  An unchecked, nearly unanimous like-minded Council that is quick to act in the interests of real estate barons and gentrification may need an extra dissenter.  Drescher also has an endorsement and a testimony, practically headlining the home page of his website, from fellow Planning Commissioner, Rob Lemmon (have readers, here, heard about Lemmon's anti-apartments spiel?).  We will not go over the whole list of Drescher's endorsements, but Mr. Drescher may not even be the status quo candidate if Erxleben gets his ear about Newcastle being one of Bellevue's neighborhoods.

[revised on 8/29/13]

P.S.  There are indications that Mark Greene has the support of some of Newcastle's city officials, but in the interest of circumspection, we will not name them.  It is understandable, seeing that they're appointed officials and not elected, that they would probably prefer to remain anonymous.

[revised on 8/29/13]

Please vote for I-522 this November, YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW about whether of not the food you buy is genetically modified.

The Environmental Speech

Mark Greene's speech in front of the Newcastle City Council on August 20, 2013


Ladies and Gentlemen,





Mark Greene

With foresight and leadership from this Council, Newcastle has an opportunity to be the vanguard of environmental leadership in Washington, which is why I am proposing the Newcastle Environmental Enhancement Project which would work hand-in-hand with the Public Works Department and the Community Activities Commission in finding new ways for our community to coexist with the planet that will increase our overall human development in a way that would coexist peaceably with the many wonders of the Earth.  This project would be the work of volunteers interested in mapping infrastructure problems and potential environmental hazards on a map of Newcastle, rating them in regards to their negative or potential negative impact on the community, and coming up with solutions to counteract them.  This project, if it gets off the ground, could provide many other services, such as workable contingency plans for natural disasters, proposing ideas about energy, waste and recycling and serving as the environmental watch group for Newcastle.

- Mark Greene

Please vote for I-522 this November, YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW about whether of not the food you buy is genetically modified.