Published: Friday, September 02, 2005
Shoreline / Lake Forest Park

Edmonds, Ferguson ready for primary race 

By Brooke Fisher

Enterprise editor

Link to the complete Enterprise Newspapers article.

Ferguson has served on the County Council for two years, representing District 2 after unseating 20-year incumbent and Council chairwoman Cynthia Sullivan. He committed to door-belling the area and stressed that the Council needed change.

"The thought was that the Council needed to flex its legislative muscles a little more," Ferguson said. "The challenges facing the county are so intense right now."

Ferguson, a Seattle resident, is a native of King County and practiced law before running for office.

"The Council needed new blood, new energy," Ferguson said. "I look forward to having four more years."

Ferguson said outreach has been a priority and in order to meet constituents, he has met with more than 200 residents for coffee in the past two years.

Ferguson's experience with King County's Brightwater Project started when he was an attorney working for municipalities. At the time, Brightwater was just a concept and he was part of the legal team researching the feasibility and legal ramifications.

On transportation, Ferguson says he has a heightened awareness of bus service after opting to take the bus to work each day and hopes to improve transportation for commuters. Sounder train ridership can be increased, he said, if a stop is added in Shoreline.

"We need to take a look at including Shoreline," Ferguson said. "People are looking at options to get out of their car."

Ferguson serves on the Regional Transit and Transportation committees and supports having town meetings to educate citizens about transportation issues and learn their priorities.

Regarding the gas tax, Ferguson supports the tax, saying the region has many transportation needs that keep getting bigger. He supports taxes that most closely align with what is being accomplished.

"I am a believer in user-fees, gas taxes and tolls," Ferguson said.

Ferguson said the county is in a budget crisis and issues caused by Tim Eyman-sponsored initiatives limit money coming into the county budget. He serves on the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee and said in the past five years, the Council has cut about $150 million from a budget of about $600 million that funds Council member salaries, courts, jails, and human services.

Ferguson says constituents are ready for new leadership.

"I have demonstrated a unique willingness to get out and hear what constituents have said," Ferguson said. "People are hungry for better communications with elected officials."

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