Sen. Fred Jarrett tapped for No. 2 county job
November 17, 2009
The next No. 2 man in King County government will be Fred Jarrett, the Mercer Island Democrat who represents southwest Issaquah in the state Senate. Read more
Voters strengthen open space protection
November 10, 2009
Voters approved extra protections for land along Issaquah Creek, parts of Cougar and Squak mountains, and dozens of other natural areas throughout unincorporated King County. Known as the Open Space Amendment, the measure applies to more than 156,000 acres at 96 sites countywide. Read more
Issaquah official will advise county executive-elect
November 10, 2009
Issaquah Councilman Fred Butler will advise Dow Constantine as the King County executive-elect prepares to take office Nov. 24. Read more
Park Pointe goes to auction Friday
November 3, 2009
The proposed Park Pointe development would be built on 67 acres near Issaquah High School, but the project is in limbo as the land heads to auction Nov. 6. Source: city of Issaquah
City planners detailed last week how the long-planned Park Pointe project could impact Tiger Mountain views, wetlands and wildlife. But the information could be useless because the land where Park Pointe would be built heads to auction Nov. 6.
The project developer, Wellington Park Pointe LLC, failed to make payments on a loan from Regal Financial Bank and in June defaulted on nearly $12 million owed. Developers envisioned hundreds of homes on 67 forested acres on the west slope of Tiger Mountain, behind Issaquah High School.
City planners released the long-awaited environmental impact statement for the project last week. The timing carries a particular irony: The final environmental impact statement for Park Pointe was released Oct. 30 — a week before the land heads to auction.
Meanwhile, city officials hope to smooth the way toward a development-rights transfer to keep the Park Pointe site undeveloped. The transfer of development rights between the Park Pointe developer and Issaquah Highlands developer Port Blakely Communities would leave Park Pointe undeveloped; additional houses would be built in the highlands instead.
Major Development Review Team Manager Keith Niven said city officials still want the development-rights deal to materialize. He said city officials entered discussions with developers to gauge interest in the Park Pointe site and a transfer of the development rights. Read more
Press Editorial
July 14, 2009
County executive election is critical
Twelve years ago, as King County voters prepared to elect a new executive, a big issue was all about the need for more ball fields. And rural residents were threatening to form their own county in protest of land regulations imposed on property rights. Ron Sims promised a lot of ball fields and a little of everything else. He won the election. Read more
Fred Jarrett to enter race for county executive seat
March 16, 2009
NEW — 7 p.m. March 16, 2008
State Sen. Fred Jarrett, who has been considering running for county executive in November, said he’s entering the race.
Two King County Council members — Larry Phillips and Dow Constantine, both of Seattle — announced earlier this year they were entering the race to replace Ron Sims as county executive.
Jarrett said he’d offer voters an alternative to a Seattle-based politician for the executive post.
Fred Jarrett
Sims move to D.C. is timely for elections
February 3, 2009
King County Executive Ron Sims, who’s been a fixture in politics since he was first elected to the County Council in 1985, is moving on to a post in the Obama administration as deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Press Editorial
January 19, 2009
Sherril Huff preferred for elections chief
By now, voters have received the first all-mail ballot used in a King County election, and are wondering who to vote for. The only election on the ballot that applies to Issaquah will decide which of six candidates will become the first-ever elected director of elections for the county. Read more
Forum set for elections chief
January 5, 2009
The election season is upon us once again. A little less than two months after the Nov. 4 general election, King County voters on Feb. 3 will decide for the first time who they want heading up the county’s elections department.
Top 10 news stories of 2008
December 29, 2008
2008 news stories revisited
From an increase in robberies to the demise of the proposed Southeast Bypass, 2008 was action packed in Issaquah. Lightning and snow storms, a stronger Moroccan connection and business closures all made headlines.
In no particular order, here are updates on our pick of the top 10 news stories of the year: Read more
