Toby’s Comments on the Election Results

Dear Friends,

The election results have now been certified by the King County Canvassing Board, and I’ve been declared the winner. The margin was 196 votes out of 24,814 ballots cast. Thank you all for your support and hard work throughout the campaign!

I thank Councilmember Greenway for her many years of faithful service to the city and for a hard-fought but civil campaign. I look forward to continuing to work with her, since I know her love of the city will not allow her to just sit back and relax any more than would mine.

I’m grateful to the people of Kirkland for this opportunity to serve them as a member of the city council. I’m humbled by how close the vote was, and affirm once again that as a councilmember I will do my best to represent and consider the interests of everyone in Kirkland, including all neighborhoods old and new, without regard to who they might have supported in the campaign.

I look forward to learning from and working together with the other members of the City Council, the members of the Houghton Community Council, our great volunteer members of boards and commissions, the city manager and staff, and all the citizens of Kirkland, to make our city an even better place to live, providing the services we need at a cost we can afford, with the ethics, transparency, and accountability we expect and deserve. I encourage people to continue contacting me with their ideas and concerns; there’s nothing we can’t achieve if we work together.

Thanks for all your good wishes and continued support!

Best regards,

Toby Nixon for Kirkland City Council

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I have a proven track record as your representative in the state legislature and as a fire commissioner. Now I want to put my experience, knowledge, and skills to work as your next Kirkland city council member.

I want Kirkland to be an example of openness and accountability to cities throughout Washington, and go beyond the minimal basic requirements of state law on government transparency and ethics. We need a strong ethics code now, so we don’t repeat the problems we’ve seen in Bellevue and other cities, and comprehensive policies on disclosure to ensure citizens have access to public records promptly and cost-effectively. We have a right to know what our city officials are doing, and to expect them to serve the public interest and not for personal or political gain. I chaired the Kirkland Ethics Task Force, appointed by the City Council to draft an ethics and conduct policy for members of the city council and city boards and commissions, and also serve as president of Washington Coalition for Open Government -- a proven record in support of ethics, transparency, and accountability.

We need jobs and businesses in Kirkland to grow if we expect the best services for our neighborhoods and families. Our business and zoning regulations and tax policies must accommodate innovation and growth, while protecting the unique character of Kirkland and our neighborhoods. We can’t drive away vital investment and family-wage jobs for our families by micro-managing businesses from the city council chamber.

As co-chair of Citizens for One Kirkland, the committee that supported annexation of Kingsgate, North Juanita, and Finn Hill into Kirkland, I worked hard to bring our city together and make it One. I’ve worked toward this goal for nearly a decade, unlike some on the city council who tried to block it and voted against it. I’m committed to bringing all parts of our city together, building a sustainable budget, and providing the essential services that the citizens and businesses in Kirkland deserve and expect.

I look forward to meeting and talking with you this summer and fall during the campaign. I'll be knocking on a lot of doors and making a lot of phone calls. If you ever have a question for me, don't hesitate to contact me when it's convenient for you -- just call me at 206-790-6377 or email me at toby@tobynixon.com.

Thanks for your support!