With more than 80 percent of the primary-election ballots yet to be returned, per King County’s daily updates, it looks like many voters are going down to the wire. WSB candidate-closeup coverage is concluding with last looks at the Seattle mayoral challengers (we interviewed the incumbent earlier in the campaign). We sent them five questions, 4 geared to West Seattle.

By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

It seems that mayoral candidate and environmentalist Mike McGinn has one focus to his campaign – to stop the deep-bored-tunnel plan that will replace the central section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

McGinn wants to tear down The Viaduct, and let traffic flow on surface streets with a dramatically improved bus system and expanded light rail, along with more opportunities of bicycling and walking. He contends the tunnel idea is too expensive, will increase taxes too much, is guaranteed to have huge cost over-runs, and by-passes downtown without exits.

Candidate McGinn’s position is in stark opposition to Mayor Greg Nickels‘ support for the tunnel, and has sparked an overheated back-and-forth in the days before the ballot deadline.

McGinn, a lawyer who lives in the Greenwood neighborhood, launched his campaign in March with ideas for improving education and Seattle schools. If no progress is made in two years, he wants the city to take over responsibility for the schools.

He was 2008 co-chair of the Seattle Parks for All campaign and is a former chairman of the Seattle chapter of the Sierra Club.

Here’s how McGinn responded to WSB’s five questions:

1. West Seattle residents are concerned about shootings, youth violence and gang activity in the area. Do you have a plan to tackle the issue, and what will you do to keep our neighborhoods safe?

McGINN: The youth and gang violence problem is complex and tragic. This will be a high priority for me if I am elected mayor.

We need to bring every person from an at-risk child or youth’s support agencies in the same room to craft a plan that meets the needs of the child. By focusing on at-risk kids and steering them towards positive lifestyle choices before they got involved with gangs, the City can decrease gang activity and youth related violence.

In 2004, the city changed the focus of the case management system (Seattle Team for Youth) from intervening with at-risk youth, to academic performance. This shift has had negative effects on youth violence. We need to go back to a more effectively identifying and intervening with at-risk youths.

In response to the recent escalation in youth and gang violence, Greg Nickels recently released a program to direct city resources to at-risk youth. However, the City’s new youth violence initiative is flawed. Instead of working with public social-service agencies, it farms out the responsibility for youth intervention to separate NGOs, resulting in a process will likely be balkanized and inefficient.

McGINN: We cannot rely solely on policing to deal with this issue. Reducing youth and gang violence will take a collaborative effort by police officers, teachers and social service providers. I founded Great City (a nonprofit organization) to bring together neighbors, environmentalists, and business leaders and find points of agreement around complex development issues. If elected I will bring the same commitment and collaboration to solving this issue.

2. A full block grocery and housing project in West Seattle has been nicknamed “Hole Foods” after the vast pit that replaced two businesses nearly a year ago. There are concerns about the safety, the stability of surrounding roads at Fauntleroy Way and SW Alaska Street. West Seattle is anticipating a deluge of development; what can be done to make sure we don’t end up with more pits?

McGINN: This is not just a West Seattle problem — it’s a problem throughout the entire city. Part of the problem is that the length of time it takes to get a permit is so long that the conditions that let developers start a project do not exist when the project is finally permitted. One reason the permit process is so long is because we don’t like types of buildings that our zoning code encourages. It generally compels development of boxy buildings that fill the lot but are often aesthetically unpleasant. I support changing our zoning laws as well as the neighborhood planning process so that new development that is consistent with community expectations will get priority in the permitting process.

3. West Seattle often feels like an island, residents risk messy commutes and difficult downtown shopping expeditions under almost any plan for the Alaskan Way Viaduct. What ideas do you have for keeping West Seattle connected during and after construction?

– Improving bus rapid transit and having more efficient bus systems would help alleviate traffic problems and improve transit time to downtown.

– Look at extending light rail to West Seattle.

4. What is the biggest issue facing Seattle and how will you deal with it?

McGINN: Right now, the biggest issue of Seattle is that we face tough economic times, and a rapidly changing world economy. We also face extraordinary tough social and environmental problems. That means we need to consider significant change in our priorities, and how government works with communities.

I have set out a platform to support schools, technology infrastructure and local transit as good investments in our people and our infrastructure. At the same time, I am opposing the proposed viaduct tunnel. It is unfunded, risky, and threatens the ability of Seattle to fund basic services and make the right investments in our future.

As mayor I will refocus our efforts and create working partnerships to improve our school system. And if, after two years, there has been no improvement I will move to have the mayor’s office take direct responsibility for the school district as recommended by Obama’s Education Secretary.

Seattle needs to be at the forefront of technology, which means we need to build out next- generation fiber optic to every home and business in the city. This will increase our competitiveness and attract good, family wage jobs.

We must dramatically improve local transit service by adding bus service, creating traffic signal priority for transit, removing redundant bus stops, and adding bus-only lanes and helping solve the financing crisis.

5. What is your favorite place in West Seattle, and why?

McGINN: Seacrest Boat House — fish and chips with the family at a beautiful place.

McGinn’s website is at mcginnformayor.com. Your ballot must be postmarked by Tuesday, or dropped off in one of the dropboxes around the county (no postage needed if you choose that option – the nearest ones are in North Delridge and White Center) by 8 pm Tuesday night. To see previous WSB candidate/politics reports, check this newest-to-oldest archive.