By Janis Siegel, JTNews Correspondent
Win or lose, 35-year-old Shoreline resident Jesse Salomon will be back at his job working as a public defender in dispute resolution courts in the Seattle Municipal Court. But the self-described progressive Democrat is feeling pretty good about his bid for the Shoreline City Council, Position 6 seat as endorsements and cash continue to flow his way.
Running against former Shoreline planning commissioner Robin McClelland for the council seat being vacated by Terry Scott, his most recent endorsements include the Aerospace Machinists Local 751, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21, the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 32, and the Carpenters Local-LADS 1144.
Salomon sat down with JTNews in October to discuss his campaign and the issues.
“I’m really optimistic,” Salomon said. “We’ve done a ton of doorbelling and have been able to cover every neighborhood. I’ve raised more money in this race than any of the candidates, not counting my contribution, but I’m pretty much, neck-and-neck with my opponent, in terms of private fundraising.”
According to the Public Disclosure Commission, as of Oct. 17, Salomon reported raising $32,671.70, through his website, loans, and individual contributions, in addition to a personal campaign loan of $15,000. He’s spent $21,489.45 to date. During the same reporting cycle, McClellan reported a campaign total of $23,511.31and spent $13,725.12.
“I will win by outworking, out fundraising and by being a better candidate,” wrote Salomon in the 2011 King County Democrats general questionnaire.
He told JTNews that his skills as a fair but tough negotiator may be the most valuable asset he brings to the job.
In 2006, Salomon ran for state senator against then-Sen. Dale Brandland, but Salomon lost that race.
“I was running in a Republican district against a former sheriff of 11 years,” recalled Salomon. “On election night, we got 49 percent, but the vote total went the wrong way for me.”
Born and raised in Seattle, Salomon attended Seattle-area Jewish day schools, lived in India and Israel with his parents as a child, has visited Israel twice this year, and, these days, casually drops in to Hillel at the University of Washington for community services.
He attended Western Washington University and the University of Washington for his undergraduate work, and earned his law degree at the UW.
He has advocated locally on behalf of homeless youth, supported anti-segregation public school policy, and protected victims of domestic violence and abused children. Salomon was also a prosecutor for the Lummi Tribe in Whatcom County.
If he wins, Salomon will tackle several issues, including a contentious and growing conflict between the City of Shoreline and developers over a 3,100-unit condominium project permitted on its border with Snohomish County, parks and open space, increased population density, fiscal responsibility, and mixed use and commercial zoning and its effects on small businesses.
But Salomon has a painful and personal connection to an issue that is also on the candidate’s priority list.
In 2009, his mother, Carol Salomon, 60, a UW professor, researcher and expert in the Bengali language, was fatally struck by a vehicle while riding her bicycle in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle.
Today, Salomon doesn’t promote the coexistence of bikes and cars on city streets and said he would rather see local bike trails expanded and dedicated bike corridors built. If elected, he would be a fierce proponent of traffic safety, safe sidewalks, adequate street lighting, and pedestrian safety.
“It’s not realistic to expect that there will never be danger with bicyclists along roads with cars,” he said. “There’s a strong need for more sidewalks and more street lighting. We need to focus on that as a priority in the budget.”
He added that cracked sidewalks, and often no sidewalks can make getting around a dangerous proposition for some senior citizens and small children who may be just playing in their front yards.
“I’ve been hit by a car, and my girlfriend has had several near misses,” said Salomon. “It’s just not safe.”
Shoreline incorporates 14 neighborhoods, and several of them would be exposed to the dramatic effects of increased traffic congestion from the proposed 61-acre Point Wells condominium development, say project opponents, including Salomon.
A poll conducted by the 32nd District Democrats showed that over 95 percent of Shoreline residents oppose the size and scope of the proposed development, he said.
Point Wells is located in an unincorporated portion of Snohomish County, however its Southern border is shared with the City of Shoreline.
Access to the development would run directly through the Shoreline border.
“There’s essentially one way in and the fear is that it’s going to be clogged with traffic,” said Salomon. “There’s also a lot of concern about the pass-through side streets that are now peaceful and quiet can turn into de facto arterials. We need to stop that.”