On June 30th Denis Law will have served his first half-year in the Renton mayor's office. It's been a productive and pleasant six months for the council, even though we have had to work through some major work projects (huge annexations, completion of the Landing, Seahawks headquarters construction, rebuilding four train trestles, etc) and many issues (transit center crime, airport leases, helicopter issues, closing of Duvall Avenue, derelict dry docks, etc). We've also had to appoint a new council member during this time.

Marcie Palmer, who is serving as council president for the first time this year, has also done an expert job at making this a smooth transition year.

Here is the Renton Reporter story about Denis Law's highly-successful first six months in office.

Denis- Thanks for doing such a great job for our city!

We finally had our professional council portrait taken, now that the council has been finalized. (Previous pictures I posted this year were taken by visitors to the council chambers)

These pictures were taken in a light rain, but you can hardly tell. And rainy day pictures always have the nicest lighting and nice color. (click pictures to enlarge)




Here is council only

Here is council and mayor




We've each had new individual shots taken for the city's website. Previously, the website featured a mix of campaign photos and very old council portraits.

Here's mine.

Bigger, safer and stronger: It's an exciting time in Renton

Special to The Times

Denis Law

Yesterday marked my two-month anniversary as Renton's mayor.

I have taken my place in this community of extraordinary leaders and look forward to fostering a spirit of teamwork and cooperation that will keep us working together for the next several years.

( Read more... )

I moved this cartoon back to the top for one more run, because the 14-year-old Renton artist did such a nice job on it. I think she is willing to create more cartoons for my blog. What do you all think...should I ask her to?

We have recieved an excellent report from Police Chief Kevin Milosevich, about what a difference pro-active police work can make on some of the crimes that have been dogging our city in recent years. I am extremely proud of our Chief, and all of Renton's finest who report to him. Our officers have never once given up any of our city to the bad-guys, no matter how strained the budget's have been.

This lastest report is an example of exactly what needs to be done on a more regular basis. Chief Milosovich can do this due to council support for more police officers and officer overtime, at the urging of Denis Law's Public Safety committee, at a time when the mayor wasn't even keeping open slots filled. Our police department is at the highest level of per-capita manpower that they've enjoyed for years, thanks to the insistance of council that we backfill and add positions. The officers know that this is due to Denis Law, Chair of Public Safety, and the rest of us on Council. That is one reason they have endorsed Denis for Mayor, and my council collegues Marcie Palmer and Don Person in their campaigns for reelection.

It took great courage for the police officers to vote to endorse Denis Law over the current mayor, and give Denis Law's campaign a check for $10,000. No professional finds it easy to tell their top-boss that they want another leader instead. But they did this for YOUR good, the safety of Renton and their desire to make Renton a shining light of public safety. And let's face it....our police officers have never been lacking for courage. Whether walking into domestic disturbances when guns are in the home, responding to a bank robery in progress, or fooling some thieves into selling an undercover officer some stolen cars, our officers put their lives on the line every day.

Here is Chief Milosovich's report:

Last night, members of Special Operations, Narcotics, and uniformed patrol officers concluded and undercover operation a buy/bust of Thomas McKee for possession of stolen property.

McKee is a very busy auto/boat thief who usually steals commercial trucks and boats and sells the equipment from them. McKee usually operates in Renton, Bellevue, Kent, and Seatac. Department members used an undercover detective to make 2 controlled buys of numerous stolen property that was valued at over $34,000.

McKee stole 2 different trucks in the last 2 days, which Crime Analyst Shirley Rickman was able to trace to Shoreline and Pierce County, and he attempted to sell us the property he stripped from the trucks.

McKee and accomplice Sean Van Meter were arrested at the Valley Cinemas last night. Both subjects were arrested for multiple counts of Trafficking Stolen Property, and Van Meter had a Felony DOC Escape warrant. McKee is maxed out and is facing a sentencing range of 64-80 months.

This is another example of the purpose for the creation of the Special Operations Division this past year. This division was developed to pro-actively respond to incidents of crime. Response may vary from a strong uniform presence, or by conducting undercover operations.

Special Operations personnel in the last several months have conducted undercover operations that have led to multiple arrests of copper thieves, and have conducted a couple of prostitution stings involving local massage parlors and tanning salons.

While at the same time, this team is flexible to conduct high profile uniform presence at local taverns during closing hours and seven members were on bicycles in Gene Coulon Park on the 4th of July.

Thanks Chief, and thanks to all the officers and staff of the Renton PD!

P.S. Denis Law, Council Candidate Greg Taylor, and I all sat on the selection committee that selected Chief Milosovich (from Renton's own police ranks) over other national-search candidates to fill this spot. We were proud to select one of Renton's own for this position, and Chief Milosovich has proven to be an outstanding choice.

Denis law is leading in the informal Myspace poll by about 4 to 1, with many residents still undecided. The comments are really interesting and informative. If you are following the race for mayor, you don't want to miss this!
Click Here to see the latest results!

I was just reviewing my huge folder on the lipstick caper and it still irritates me that the newspapers did not report on the mayor's complicity in this case...especially after she tried to involve/implicate so many others in this mess. In one part of the mayor's testimony, she makes a statement that Jay Covington (her executive administrator) suggested she push the panic alarm to see what would happen. In her taped statement, she states that she believes Jay was gone at that time, looking for an officer, when she pushed the alarm. The inconsistencies in the written and recorded testimony; her desperate reaction to the polygraph while she was back in Maryland at FEMA training-- all still deserve further scrutiny by the public and the media.

Here is some of the interesting testimony. Pease read, and then ask yourself whether she interferred with the police investigation.

On May 18, 2006, Detective Dave Patterson with Kent PD made the following comments in a written statement, which is part of his investigation:

Following a taped interview with the mayor on April 26, 2006, Detective Patterson turned off the tape recorder, at which time the mayor asked where all of this is going. Det. Patterson advised her that they had to investigate every angle. 'I advised her that the charges could range from burglary, theft, trespass to false reporting. I explained that we had to look at all possible situations. I advised her that we would be asking people for the possibility of polygraph tests. At this point the mayor advised me that as the Chief Executive Officer of the City, she felt she had a responsibility to the citizens to not expend taxpayer money on something like this any further. She stated that she needed for this to go away as soon as possible. I advised her that we had an investigation to conduct and that I would be getting back with her.'

On May 2, 2006, I did speak briefly with Randy Corman. He called to advise me of a telephone call he had got from Jay Covington, who was back at a FEMA conference with the mayor this past week. He stated that Jay was basically saying the mayor wanted him and Julia to not take the polygraph and to call off the investigation. Randy mailed me a saved audio copy of the message. I had this message transcribed and a copy is included with this report.

On May 4, 2006, Detective Kelly and I met with Randy Corman and he did take a polygraph test and no deception was observed.

On May 5, 2006, Julia Medzegian met with Det. Kelly and I and she took a polygraph. No deception was observed.

On May 8, 2006, I called the mayor's office and left her a message that I would like to speak with her about the case. I was away from my desk and got a call back and voice mail advising to call her after 1030 hours. At about 10:50 hours, I called her back. I spoke with her and advised her that I was at a point where I was getting close to wrapping up the investigation. I advised her that several people had submitted to polygraph tests and I asked her if she would do the same. At this point, the mayor declined to take the polygraph test. She stated that she could not justify the resources being diverted to this case even though they were Kent resources. She stated that the investigation had gotten way out of control. She stated that she needed to find a way to gracefully bring this to a close.

You can get all the facts about the lipstick case here

Click on the pictures to enlarge!

I know him very well, but for those of you who don't...

Here is some additional background about Denis Law from the King County Municipal League website

I'll add some of my own additional reasons for supporting him in a few days...so please check back!

"Renton residents deserve a leader who is experienced and focused on serving the community as a whole, not just an influential few." I found this statement on Mayor Keolker's website. I completely agree of course, and that is why I will be so glad to see Denis Law take over the mayor's office. What I can't believe, however, is that the mayor would try to insinuate that SHE is the person representing the many (not Denis Law), when I can so easily show that Councilman Law is the only mayoral candidate that will represent everyone.

For starters, Mayor Keolker has received two-thirds of her Renton-based campaign money from just three big-money interests...a developer, an auto dealer, and a restaurant chain owner. In contrast, Denis Law has received his more-abundant donations from hundreds of Renton donors, including residents from every neighborhood, blue and white collar workers, engineers, teachers, PTA members, community activists, school board members, former school superintendents, fire fighers, police officers and so many others.

But more importantly, the Mayor's decision-record has been predominantly in favor of big money interests over common citizens. Please review my historical blogs below for more information on this. The uproar over the Renton Highlands, which led to the most embarrassing legal mess ever to hit the executive level of Renton City Hall (lipstick, bad-words on the mayor's mirror, mayor's unwillingness to submit to a police lie detector, etc), provided a very clear example that the mayor does not listen to Renton residents.

But there is an even more important point here. Mayor Keolker's implied accusations that Denis Law will serve only an influential few (which she has also been verbalizing around town) is an example of her ridiculous tendency to project HER OWN flaws and failings onto others. She did the same thing to Councilman King Parker and me when we ran against her for mayor. As polite opponents, not wishing to sink to her level, we were reluctant to point out publicly when she was lying; but our reluctance unfortunately served to reinforce her pattern. She now seems to believe that projecting her own flaws onto her opponent makes for a good preemptive strike and/or good politics.

Because I care so much about our city and it's citizens, I'm no longer going to just sit quietly when I see this happen. I'll tell you about it, and I'll back it up with data from my nearly 14 years of service on council.

Thanks!

Randy Corman

The results are in, and I am not a bit surprised.

Denis Law has raised 87% of his $83,514 campaign funding from Renton sources, while Mayor Keolker has raised the majority of her $50,290 in funding from OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.

Denis has raised $75,235 in cash contibutions, of which only $11,080 comes from outside Renton according to PDC filings. He also has raised $8278 in in kind donations, of which all but $100 is from Renton sources.

Mayor Keolker meanwhile, has raised $50,290, of which only 47% is from city sources. And of the $23,930 she has raised from city addresses, $15,000 of it (63 percent) is from just three contributions...a developer, an auto-dealer, and a restaurant owner. Excluding these three doners, she has only been able to find $8,930 in local money. The majority of her donations instead come from as far away as Oklahoma City (Clay Bennet $1000) and Houston (Waste Management $500), and from places in Puget Sound other than Renton. I believe this is because she unreasonably puts regional deal-making ahead of Renton's own interests, and she has to go far-and-wide for money to get away from her in-city reputation.

So when you vote, remember where they got their support:

Denis Law-- $72,334 from Renton sources (87 percent Renton)

Incumbant Kathy Keolker-- $23,000 from Renton sources (47 percent Renton)



( Click here to see the source data from the Washington PDC )

I think this is a really good ad. I like the "Expect more" theme, as that probably is the best way to capture how everyone on the list feels. The Fire Fighter's local purchased that classic fire truck themselves, with union money, to ensure they are not using city resources to help candidates...a first class move on their part. They also use the fire truck for fundraising for charitable causes they support (burn victims, families of fire fighters killed in service, etc..

Denis has an awesome campaign team, and he is building momentum from all parts of our city. I am happy to be included in the elected official endorsements listed in this ad.

Yep, the majority of us want a new mayor. We've been working hard to keep our city blossoming, in spite of our mayor's often misplaced priorities, lack of management experience, and other issues. And it's not partisan...council and mayor are all non-partisan positions. It's about the way the mayor's job is handled, day-in and day-out, the way we see it from city hall.

Scroll down to find my regular updates about the goings-on at city hall. You'll get it straight from the guy you've elected to represent you four times in a row...with no one editing my honest and unabashed opinions. Of course, if you disagree with me, you are welcome to leave your own comments below my writings as well. (Even if you disagree with me, if you keep your language clean and leave your name, I'll leave any rebuttals here on my page) And if you agree with me, please leave your comments as well.

Best Wishes,

Randy

At the council meeting a week ago, the Renton City Council debated passing a resolution concerning the Sonics Arena.

( you can read about the debate and the wording of the proposed resolution by clicking here )

Denis Law's Campaign has posted pictures from the fantastic January 31 Kickoff party. Over 350 people attended this positive and inspiring event.




Unprecedented crowd for a Renton campaign event nine months before the election




Cathy, me, and Sandel




Denis Law...a natural at campaigning!



Great entertainment!





The complete photo album can be seen by clicking here!

....and what a grand event it was. The festive crowd of 350 completely filled the Pavillion event center. The speakers were all terrific, and Denis's speech was positive, inspiring, and fun. At several points the crowd gave him a standing ovation. It was fun reconnecting with so many old friends.

There were too many special guests present for me to list them all, but I'll post the press release when it is available.