A MOTION making an appointment to fill the vacancy in the position of state representative for the 36th legislative district.
All right. They all. Thank you, Mr. Kaplan. We appreciate your participation, and you're welcome to hang up. Thank you. At any point you wish. Thank you. All right. And that takes us to item five on the agenda. Proposed Motion 2015. 534 Will there be an opportunity to please brief remarks before this afternoon, or is that the appropriate time? And is. Thank you. Well, it's legal. I understand. You're. Trying to learn the committee. Are we today? Our next item is Motion 2015 534, which is the motion filling the anticipated vacancy in the state representative seat in the 36th legislative district. And Counsel, if we can begin with the motion, Councilmember Gossett would be willing to make the motion. Yes, Mr. Chair, I'd be happy to move at this time that we adopt proposed motion on a 2015 0534. And this is a motion making an appointment to fill the vacancy in the position of State Representative for the 36th District. Thank you. The motion is before us and it is referral to the full council would be on the assumption that the full council will take its final action this afternoon to appoint Representative Carlisle to fill the Senate seat and represented Carlisle has indeed resigned the Senate seat. With that said, again, since it is a partizan position and Representative Carlisle is a Democrat, the state constitution requires us to choose from among three nominees recommended by the King County Democratic Central Committee. Three nominees have been recommended for our consideration, and they are again in alphabetical order by last name Newell Frame, Jeff Manson. And so. Right. Senator Barneveld, once again, we'll start with each I invite each one of the three of you to join us at the presentation table. And we'll again start with a two minute introduction from each one of the nominees and then proceed with questions from the council. And so to continue the order. Good morning and Miss Frame. Yes. Good. My floor is yours. Well, good morning, members of the King County Council. Honorable members. My name is Noel Frame, and it would be the honor of my life to be the next state representative from the 36th District. I am seeking this position because I want to tackle the biggest challenge facing our state fully funding our public schools. I grew up in battleground in southwest Washington and experienced firsthand how underfunded classrooms can impede a quality education. Knowing that students today are experiencing what I experienced two decades ago is my motivation to wanting to be a leader on education funding. I believe that to fully fund our schools, we need comprehensive tax reform. And I believe for that to happen, it's going to require a robust statewide conversation with voters. And as that is the reason I think that you should appoint me today. I am a communication specialist and an organizer at my core. I've been involved in statewide civic engagement work for 15 years. I worked in the nonprofit, private and public sectors, and I offer the experience and perspective of bridging the divide that will be so critical to reaching consensus around school funding and tax reform issues. I have lived in the 36th District for more than a decade now, but my house, my first home just two years ago and ran a full campaign for this position in 2012. I came out of that campaign stronger, more confident, and even more tenacious than I was before. But that passion and that resilience certainly did not start with my campaign. I grew up the child of two restaurant workers who are here with us today. We are a family of very hard workers. But for too many people today, working hard still isn't enough to pay the bills. In the Legislature, I will work to strengthen economic security for our middle class and those in poverty. I also come from a family with a long history of mental illness and all of its related challenges like addiction. As a consequence, I served as a foster parent to two of my younger cousins. Mental health issues were not managed properly as that has a devastating impact. And I want to work on mental health issues. My name is Noelle Frame and I ask for your vote. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Manson. All right. Good morning. Thank you. It's an honor to be here and in particular, to be part of one of the first official items of of business that my council member, Jeanie Caldwell's. So I've been working to make the world a better place since I was ten years old and helped found the Earth Club at my elementary school. And since then, I've tried to use every moment to maximize my own impact for social justice, economic justice and environmental justice. It's what led me to law school and to being a legal aid attorney. And for the last six years, I've served this state as an administrative law judge, where I've seen how state laws and state budgets affect the most vulnerable in our society at the ground level. Meanwhile, I've also served as the chair of the 36th District Democrats, where I have worked to inspire people to change public policy through grassroots organizing and citizen activism. So last year I threw my hat in the ring because I was ready to fuze those two roles together, taking my deep policy expertize as a judicial officer and my organizing skills to the Democratic Party and serve the 36th District as a progressive champion in Olympia. And I'm glad I ran because it was such an incredibly enriching civic experience. We have an engaged group of 216 CEOs, 192 of whom participated in this process. And they represent every neighborhood, every conceivable profession, and reflect the demographic diversity of our district. And a substantial portion of these CEOs took the role very seriously. A good portion of them took the time to meet with each of the five candidates for at least an hour at least once, and then followed up with questions by email and by phone. They pored over our questionnaires and websites, attended several formal candidate events, including a two hour long moderated forum. So it was truly one of the most comprehensive and intimate vetting process as we could have had to choose the three nominees here today. I'm honored to have been the the second choice of the CEOs, and I accept their first choice as the right choice. And so I encourage you to appoint my friend, though I'll frame today, but I'm happy to answer your questions about my qualifications and my background. Thank you. Thank you so much. It is wonderful. Good morning, council members. It's an honor to be here today. I'd like to start by thanking my husband, Joel merkel and my family for their support during this appointment process. You may know that I'm a public sector attorney, but I'm also a wife and a mother to a spirited 16 month old daughter, a community activist and a proud progressive Democrat. I've spent the last ten years as a public servant working on behalf of the people of this state, currently as a public sector litigator, fighting for the rights of Washington workers. As a mother and education advocate, I've become increasingly concerned with our state's chronic underfunding of education, particularly public education. I thought appointment to the state house, in part because I believe we can and should do better for Washington students. It was an honor to participate in the appointment process and engage in meaningful conversations with CEOs about how to tackle the enormously consequential challenges facing our district and the state. The key messages I heard over and over again is that we need effective leadership, more effective leadership to champion and reform our regressive and unfair tax structure and increase revenue for vital social services to fully fund education in accordance with McCleary and create an excellent public education system for all our children and to protect our environment for future generations. I would not have thought this appointment if I did not believe I was uniquely qualified to tackle these challenges. I remain excited about the possibility of serving the people of the 36th District and using my legislative experience, skills and relationships to champion students, our most vulnerable and our environment and Olympia. While my desire to serve the people of the 36th District has not changed, I do support the nomination process and know our friend's nomination and I think it was a fair process. Thank you for the opportunity to present to you today, and I would welcome any questions that you have. Thank you to each of you. Questions from Councilmembers Councilmember Gossett. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I have a question for you three also related to economic and racial disproportionality. Recently, it was mentioned in the Seattle Times that Seattle is now one of the most expensive cities to live in, in terms of the cost of housing and the Seattle Times reporter Mr. Eugene Ball. The article not too long ago and he said that the average black household family income has now gone down to the ninth past in the United States, $25,700 a year. And when compared to white annual income, it's just $70,200 a year, he said. That's a tremendous economic gap. Do you think that that's something we should be concerned about? And if so, is there anything that state legislators can do about the cost and availability of housing for our most dominant families around the state type place? Thank you. Yeah, affordable housing costs in general is obviously it's a crisis here in the city and in our 36th district. And much of what we can do at the state level, we can do things like continue to invest in the housing trust fund so we can have more affordable housing available here in Seattle. I look forward to working with the city as they advocate for their housing affordability and livability agenda action items to again continue to add affordable housing and working class housing stock here in the state. But I want to go back, I think, to the racial disproportionality question, because I think so much of that goes back to our educational system. We know that. The opportunity gap, often referred to as the achievement gap, is a problem here. Last I checked, the opportunity gap was not decreasing but increasing in Washington state. So much of what we need to do is invest in our public school system and always, always bring a racial equity lens to that work. So much of what we can do to address racial disparities in education is early interventions. And I just want to say we should be so proud with King County, with the Best Arts for Kids Levy as a huge investment in early learning and early interventions for families that will no doubt have a strong impact on families of color and low income families to help try to level the playing field. Investments in early learning is one of the best places that we can start to level the playing field of that opportunity gap and later those economic opportunities available to folks. So I think the focus I bring on fixing the tax structure, working on K-12 and hopefully early learning as well will be will help address some of the challenges that you've addressed. Councilmember Gossett. Thank you. So I agree with what Noel said. I think looking at the affordable housing, you can look at both the expense side and the revenue side, if you will, of an individual family. On the expense side, I think investing in more low income housing is something the state can do, can also allow municipalities to reasonably regulate their own rents, which I know Seattle has been interested in doing. I don't think we'd be following some New York City style rent control, but putting some reasonable limits on rent increases as a way to immediately limit the affordability issue. And then on the revenue side, on the individual family sort of income side, I think housing can become more affordable if people have more disposable income. And I think raising the minimum wage, I'm glad Seattle started that and got that ball rolling. I think we can do that around the state. I support raising the minimum wage statewide, nationwide. In fact, I also think if we reformed our tax structure to be less regressive, it would also end up with lower income families, would have more money with which to to pay for housing. I think of Seattle is currently in affordability crisis. I'm very much a proponent of housing first and I think we need to drastically expand the availability of affordable housing, particularly to communities of color, low income communities and vulnerable populations. I think part of this on the state level is going to be an increased investment in the affordable housing trust fund. I also think, particularly to your point, there's things that we can do to regulate and prohibit employment and housing discrimination, which still occurs. And there's some legislative solutions that have been proposed, particularly to address housing discrimination. And I think that's extremely important in terms of addressing the problem. I would agree with Noel that I think it starts, you know, in terms of expanding access to not just early learning for children, but in addressing the opportunity and achievement gap. I think we absolutely need to do everything that we can to address the opportunity of achievement gap, including reforming school discipline in schools, implementing the restorative justice model and ending the school to prison pipeline. I think that's extremely important in addressing this problem. So I think we need to expand first and foremost the amount of affordable housing. I also think that it's important to look, you know, at investing in Washington workers. One way to do that is to increase the minimum wage. And I'm a proponent of increasing the minimum wage. And in fact, I'll fight as a litigator for the rights of workers and every day. Thank you for the questions. See none. Councilmember one right there. I'm going to have to wait till she makes your motion. Okay. Councilmember Caldwell's to make a motion. Let's see if I can get this right. The time I believe we first need to open an oral amendment right. We have. We've already moved the motion itself, and so we need an oral amendment. So with that, Mr. Chair, I propose number 20 201505341. I offer an oral amendment on line five to add Reuben Carlisle No, no. Yes, sir. I was wondering. But there are, there are two things here. Correct? Correct. You and ignore ignore the peanut gallery. Just keep going. Online. 12 to add the name of Noel Friend. Thank you. There's an oral amendment to add the name of Reuben Carlisle to line five and Noel frame to line 12 of page 45 of our packet two motion 2015 534 and I will do better this time to speak to the motion, wrote Council member Cole Wells. Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's a delight for me and a privilege to be able to speak to this amendment to add both Reuben Carlisle's name, as I read it, resigning from being representative for the 36th District and to add Noel Frame's name to be appointed as state representative. I've known them both for many, many years, and just as I stated earlier, when we took up the matter of the State Senate appointment, rather than Carlisle will make an outstanding state senator and I believe the same for Noel Frame to become an outstanding state representative as this is my district. I can also say that I will be very proud to have them representing me. I will be their constituent to the State Senate and the State House and they're both really superb Senate. Though I would like to say that Jeff Manson and Sarah Reed involved are also superb. And I wish we had three state representative, I mean, actually for Gail Thomas and I would love it if all three of you could be in the State House and perhaps in the future you will be able to assume such positions or similar ones that with that I'm delighted and I would like us to go ahead and make the appointment. Thank you. The amendment has been moved and seconded. Council Member one Rick Barrow. Thank you, Mr. Chair. When this first came before us during the holidays, I received some calls from some folks who thought, you know, maybe he had some strong feelings about some of the candidates and I had never had a chance to meet anyone. Well, I had a chance to meet one, but one of the candidates that were selected, but I did not know the other two. And Councilmember Larry Gossett encouraged me to meet with Noel. And I did that. And I got to tell you, it wasn't really enervating experience. You have a long resumé here of civic involvement and passion for issues and compassion for your neighbors. And she and I talked about where some of this began because I've been involved in my community in the Qantas Club. And while you may look at it on her résumé of all these great activities, I looked at the fact that when she was a teenager, she was the leader, the governor of Key Club. Now, a lot of people don't understand that, but that is as tough as you can get to get to be a teenager to be at that. She was flying to Alaska, flying to the East Coast as a teenager to work on behalf of programs that serve communities and especially those who have students in need. Qantas is about service and you know, some people suggested again during the holidays, jump the line, go to somebody else. No, I'm sure glad that I had the chance to meet with her, talk with her, listen to her. And I understand why Larry Gossett is such a big fan of hers. She is a person who has compassion about her neighbors and. Passionate. About her district, and she brings her incredible work ethic, which really impressed me. So I'm very happy to join my colleagues in supporting this. Good luck. Thank you very much. Councilmember Lambert. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to just say the same thing as the previous speaker, but elaborate on just one other part. And the idea that she spent the time to do this process in not only being here and meeting with Beth, but also coming to our meeting where we were talking as a council with the electeds about what it is that we are seeing our issues and be there to really hear us. The people that are trying to do what the people in your job are telling us to do. But it's difficult when we start getting our hands tied behind our back and our money to do it. So I really appreciate it. Not only that you were there, but I was watching you because I didn't know at that point who you were exactly. And you were really assimilating that information. And I really appreciated that fact. You were listening, and I thank you for that. The other thing is that in our meeting, I got to find out that we share similar passions. And as councilmember right there said, you know, this is not the thing that started last week with you. The fact that you were, I think, 25 and raising two teenagers, we share in common being a foster mom at 21. I know what that looks like and it takes dedication and hard work. And I appreciate that you have lived what you believe. I thank you. I look forward to working with you. Thank you. Councilmember up the Grove. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Even though we're a nonpartisan body, I'm going to be briefly partizan here and say that I am proud that the Democratic Party has such a deep bench of talent here, and I'm speaking in favor of the motion. But I also had the chance to get to know Sarah over the years and impressed with her, and your presentation was great. Jeff We're friends and. Common and. We're lucky to have three people who have this kind of energy and. And, and smarts. I've known Noelle probably 15 years or so, and I was thinking about what it is I like about her. And it was. One of the things that. Cathy alluded to. One of the coolest things about Noelle is the work you did as a foster mom at a young age. I couldn't have done that. It's a it's a labor of love. And you did that while balancing a professional, difficult professional career. When I think about what I know about you, it's as a champion of education, largely someone willing to fight, even when unpopular, for the values you believe in that are supported by your district. I just think you'll do a great job and I'm really excited for you. Thank you for the discussion. All those in favor of the amendment please signify by saying I am opposed. Nay, the amendment is adopted. We have the motion as amended before us discussion and final passage. If the clerk would please call the roll. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Councilmember Well, Duty Councilmember Dombrowski. Councilmember Dunn, High Customer Resources Chi member Caldwell. I'm Councilmember Lambert, Councilmember of the girl. But Councilman, run right there. Hi, Mr. Chair. Hi, Mr. Chair. There was no noise, no notes, and then excused. Thank you. By your vote, we've given a do pass recommendation two motion 2015 534 and we will expedite that to this afternoon's full council meeting. Councilmember Gossett. Yeah, I just like a point of personal privilege. I'd like to thank Noelle's mother and dad for being willing to share her with all of our community. Well, thank you. And as we have said, there will be a special meeting of the county council at 130 to act on these recommendations from the committee of the hall. And since this is a special meeting, there is nothing else on our agenda. And we will adjourn and I will see everyone at 130 for the full council meeting.