Press the ‘Play’ button to hear raw audio of the entire forum:

On Tuesday night (Sept. 22), The B-Town Blog held the first of its three 2015 Candidate Forums for Burien City Council, pitting incumbent Lucy Krakowiak against newcomer Jon Scherer. Both are vying for Position #4. The debate was held at the ERAC Building in Burien, in front of an audience of 45-50 people. Senior Writer Jack Mayne served as Moderator for the event, which ran around 90 minutes. Our next Candidate Forum is set for Tuesday, Oct. 6, and will feature Austin Bell vs Darla Green, vying for Position #6. The election will be Tuesday, Nov. 3. Here’s raw video of the full forum courtesy Pat LeMoine: [youtube]https://youtu.be/HLib5Z34UrQ[/youtube] Here are photos of the event, taken by Michael Brunk (click images to see larger versions/slideshow):
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com
]]>

Since 2007, The B-Town Blog is Burien’s multiple award-winning hyperlocal news/events website dedicated to independent journalism.

21 replies on “VIDEO/PHOTOS: Krakowiak, Scherer face off in our first 2015 Candidate Forum”

  1. Hum, Jon Scherer who claims he thinks working with neighborhoods is important to the city but has never worked with his neighbors, neighborhood group, worked with a Blockwatch, served on any city committees or attended a council meeting the 13 years he has lived in the area. This man is not ready for for a council position.

  2. Likewise for Holii Griffin as Jon Scherer. She lived here from 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2015-15 years..Appears to have served on no city committtees, no advisory groups, has not volunteered in city events No mention of city service to Burien on her Campaign page..Sent no comments or appeared before the council or commissions on critical city issues like annexation, Town Square, Visioning or Economic Develpment direction, a community center, parks,etc. Appears to have had two unsuccessful small businesses operating out of her home. It is not clear whether she organized a Blockwatch in her neighborhood to improve neighborhood safety. Claims she wants Burien to be like it was in 1996. Thinks she can lead economic develpment now. Still another attorney who wants to be on the council with Lauren Berkowitz to argue. A Jerry Robison and Lauren Berkowitz clone.
    Likewise for Austin Bell as is for Jon Scherer, age 25. Claims to be a real estate professional but does not appear to have a current state license. Again is another student in the UW planning dept. and knows Lauren Berkowitz. It is unclear where he lives. At the UW of with his dad? Appears to never have paid any property taxes in the city. Has not served on any city advisory boards, city committees or for city events. Has not been actively involved with the commissions or the council. Had his picture taken next the the flag pole during one council meeting but wasn’t present for the whole council meeting. Has not actively corresponded or appeared before the council on things he claims to have an interest in. Talks alot about his grandfather but not about what he has done for Burien-appears to have done nothing for the city by his campaign page. Bulk of campaign funding comes from outside of Burien.
    Three previously uninvolved Burien residents(Austin Bell, Holli Giffin, Jon Scherer) who are sure Burien is failing and they are sure they know how to fix the city, the council and its residents. All three want to be the chiefs without having ever served in the ranks-much like Lauren Berkowitz was in her election campaign in 2013.
    My vote is going to Lucy K., Bob Edgar and Darla Green. These three are all candidates who know the city and worked to improve it prior to running for council positions.They have been committed to Burien and citizens and businesses for the long term. This is an important election. Be sure to vote.

    1. They all are connected through Jeff Upthegrove and the Sawant socialist/ occupy movement crowd. Move into local community government and implement “change” is their plan. Rent control, $15 now, and all manner of socialist nonsense is what they intend to push.

      1. I think you meant that Holli Griffin, Jon Scherer and Austin Bell are Sawant socialist/ occupy movement crowd. Lucy Krakowiak, Bob Edgar and Darla Green are not, and they care deeply about Burien’s safety and economic development.

      2. Anyone left of Ted Cruz/Mike Huckabee is a socialist. By Joel’s Barometer that would technically put Saint Ronald Reagan and his polices (even though he’d never admit that) as a socialist.

  3. Try to count the number of times they BOTH say “um” or “uh” then choose your candidate……..I lost count and fell asleep.

  4. Jon Scherer was also in favor of bringing the issue of annexation of White Center to Burien back again if he thought the time was right. He seems to have missed what the 2010 vote was about on that issue.He is in lock step agreement with Lauren Berkowitz, Jerry Robison and Nancy Tosta on the annexation issue. Both the majority of people in Burien and in White Center don’t want this issue brought up again. He is not ready to be on this council because he really doesn’t know his community.

  5. Austin Bell knocked on my door last week. When I asked him his position on the ordinance 606 and he said he was against it and made vague comments about being against “divisiveness.” Regarding Berkowitz – my understanding is that she lives in White Center, not burien. Yet she is on the Burien city council? What is up with that? Yes, we need to have people on the council who live in Burien, and who have a record of showing ongoing concern for solving Burien’s problems. We do not need radical carpetbaggers like Berkowitz, nor do we need a Berkowitz wannabe like Austin Bell.

  6. What I found under my door mat this weekend was a rolled/folded up glob/mess of political flyers for Holli Giffin and Austin Bell. Scherer’s flyer wasn’t worth the time to unfold it. All he claims is to be for neighborhoods but doesn’t even know his own neighborhood.
    Giffin’s flyer says little to nothing; she works with people but is a lawyer? I’ve never met a lawyer on a committee or council who didn’t waste hours arguing and talking, like Jerry Robison and Lauren Berkowitz. They love to hear themselves talk. We don’t need still another Lauren. And she is for economic development but gives no details of what she would really do. Who isn’t for economic development? That is a no brainer. And what has she done for the city in the 15 years she has lived here? Nothing mentioned?
    Austin Bell’s flyer is for sidewalks and he will raise taxes to give them to people who don’t want to pay for them. Where he lives is unclear and his occupation is professional student like Lauren Berkowitz was. He wants selective policing,( whatever it is) but it seems dangerous and maybe illegal? As we know Lauren Berkowitz is supporting all three of them and that speaks volumes about why not to vote for them. They are like the rolled up glob of messy flyers they put on my porch.

  7. Giffin’s questionaire that she answered and submitted to the 34th Dems for an endorsement says she is in pending bankruptcy so how will she manage the city’s budget? It might be a good idea for readers to look up and read those questionnaires before they vote.

    1. How many lawsuits has Bob Edgar been party to as plaintiff and defendant? And how many neighbors has he sued? All public record and is ridiculous. If he cant get along with his neighbors how is he supposed to manage city relationships?

  8. Joey 1-1001/BS and the numerous other names you use to troll on this blog-There are 4 years worth of city video tapes that show Bob Edgar working with other council members in a civilized and respectful manner to get things done. There are two years worth of city video tapes showing Lauren Berkowitz, Nancy Tosta and Jerry Robison bickering, arguing and talking too much and delaying council progress. Bob Edgar appears to manage city relationships well with other council members.
    Divorces, child custody settlements, speeding tickets, parking tickets, parent’s marital status when someone was conceived, number of suspensions from middle school and neighbor disputes are of no significance in whether someone is suited to serve in a political office. And only muckrakers dig around in that kind of junk. However, non payment of taxes or court ordered fees, failed businesses, bankruptcy, drunk driving and fleeing the scene of an accident when people are injured and loss of business licenses can be significant issues when considering one’s fitness to perform government duties.
    Come to grips with the fact that you lost two elections and stop trying to sling mud or argue all of the time.Get another more socially appropriate hobby. Have you ever tried to figure out why people didn’t want to vote for you or elect you to office? Honestly get some professional counseling and a life.

    1. Mike “drunk driving and fleeing the scene of an accident when people are injured” is one of the current candidates guilty of this crime or is it Joey?

      1. I’ve not been convicted of any crimes (except one speeding ticket in 1999). I have been to jail a few times but that was because I was working for the City of Auburn and they operated their own jail at the time. I was providing IT support. Good luck with that one…

    2. I only post as myself. I have only ever posted as myself (and my 1-1001 to prove a point). You however seem to choose different names but don’t vary your writing style one bit.You even comment at council meetings, then chose an alias and say the exact same stuff in the exact same way. That is pretty obvious on who you are.
      You mean to tell me, that all of what you stated isn’t fit for judging someone for political office? Every single one of those things “only muckrakers” look up has been used and is used to vote people out of office.
      I posted what I posted to show the hypocrisy of you and your lake Burien Cartel. Don’t like the person? Throw mud, but then complain about mud throwing. Warn people about under bellied people doing what you yourself do.
      That’s despicable. Besides – I wasn’t caught using a false alias, one of your puppets was.
      I figured out why I lost, I wasn’t willing to kiss your ring.

  9. Aug. 2011 primary election-Joey Martinez gets 16% of the vote, does not make it to the general election.
    Nov. 2013 general election-Joey Martinez gets 38% of the vote and loses the election.
    Joey1-1001/BS you weren’t kissing any rings with those voting percentages. You lost because of your attitude and what you said. Face reality.

Comments are closed.