I am passionate about helping Seattle prepare for the future. You’ve known me as a longtime journalist, your City Councilmember for the past seven years, and more recently as the City’s Budget Chair. In the toughest of times I balanced our City’s budget while restoring cuts to neighborhood programs, libraries, and community health clinics. I’m an unapologetic environmentalist and I’m willing to do what is right to keep our city and neighborhoods safe and protected.  I know that business is a driving, positive force in Seattle’s future, and I prioritize creating livable jobs for a more prosperous city.  I stand up for our libraries, our arts, the environment, civil and women’s rights, and our diverse communities.

When I am reelected, I will continue to work on issues critical to the future of our region including:

• Creating family-wage jobs. We will get out of this recession when we get people back to work.
  
• Reclaiming and reactivating our waterfront with a variety of uses, such as small-scale retail, art space, greenspace, and venues for music and entertainment. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we have to ensure that we do it right.
• Improving police accountability and restoring the public’s trust in law enforcement.

My record shows a deep commitment to Seattle’s core values.  Here’s some of what I’ve accomplished:

• Working Families: As Budget Chair I restored funding for community health clinics, domestic violence programs, and neighborhood programs. And I’ve stood tall in defense of our region’s labor unions — we will not let right-wing ideologues undermine collective bargaining.
• Jobs: I’ve fought for and brought jobs to Seattle – personally negotiating with the Frank Russell Company to close the deal on their move to Seattle, bringing with them hundreds of jobs.
• Environment: As chair of the Energy and Technology committee I oversaw Seattle City Light as it became the first carbon neutral utility in the country.
• Civil Rights: I believe there is still a place for a voice that stands strong for freedom of speech, worker’s rights, women’s rights, gay and lesbian and transgender rights, and equal rights whether that be in the workplace, our neighborhoods, or on the streets.

If you have any questions about my record, accomplishments, or plans for the future, please don’t hesitate to email me at jean@jeangodden.com.