It’s election season and there a lot of candidates running for office in Seattle. One key office, City Attorney, is up for election. This key office is often not talked about by people concerned with housing and development, but it matters. Incumbent Pete Holmes’ office argued somewhat famously now that, “laws can be bad, but still be legal,” when it defended the illegal abutting lot ordinance pushed by Councilmember Mike O’Brien. That ordinance would have required one project to go through full design review because, when combined with units being built in an abutting lot, put both projects over the threshold for design review. Holme’s office defended this by arguing that like adult entertainment, liquor stores, and pot shops, that housing is something that should be dispersed and not built densely.

Holmes has a challenger, Scott Lindsay, who worked for the Mayor. According to the Seattle Times

Before joining Murray’s office, Lindsay served as senior counsel in Washington, D.C., to Rep. Elijah Cummings, a Maryland Democrat, and to the House Oversight Committee. He also practiced law in Seattle and D.C. with K & L Gates. The 39-year-old Seattle native is the husband of Port of Seattle Commissioner Courtney Gregoire and the son-in-law of former Gov. Chris Gregoire.

Lindsay will be at our breakfast this week, Thursday, June 1st at the Blue Star Cafe in Wallingford.

Also joining us will be Sara Nelson who was a legislative aide for former Seattle City Councilman Richard Conlin. Nelson has long been active on issues related to housing and land use both on Council staff and as an activist. She’s also a small business founder and owner, starting Fremont Brewing with her husband. Business is booming and Nelson has a strong knowledge of what it takes to start and operate a growing business in Seattle. She’s running for the open seat created by the retirement of City Councilmember Tim Burgess.

This is an opportunity to get these candidates on the record on a variety of relevant issues like public safety, Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning (MIZ), rent control, and their opinion on regulations that impact the production of housing. If you’re not on our regular mailing list and want to attend, please drop me an e-mail at roger@seattleforgrowth.org to RSVP.