Nick Licata, a three-term incumbent who’s well liked by both his fellow city council members and the public, is the council’s most reliable advocate for open government and marginalized people, and against developer giveaways.
Opponents have long criticized Licata for being the lone “no” vote on high-profile issues. However, the things Licata votes against are frequently bad ideas and boondoggles. For example, Licata opposed the $50 million South Lake Union Streetcar, voted against the $200 million “Mercer Mess” fix, and voted against the controversial Woodland Park Zoo parking garage.
Moreover, Licata’s reputation as the “no” guy on the council isn’t entirely fair. Over the years, he’s learned to work with his political opponents to take bad legislation and make it better. For example, during his first term, Licata improved a library funding proposal that didn’t have support from the neighborhoods, resulting in new branch libraries in Northgate and South Park. In his second term, he brokered a master plan for the Arboretum between neighbors and advocates for park expansion. And he successfully changed the city’s arbitrary (and ultimately illegal) special events ordinance, strictly limiting the conditions under which parade permits can be reversed.
Licata’s never had a real challenger. This year, he has two—King County Parks administrator Jessie Israel and Planning Commission member Martin Kaplan. We like Israel, who raises some good issues about Licata—noting, for example, his opposition to proposals that would increase density around transit stops—but she hasn’t made a convincing case that Licata needs to go.
PubliCola picks Nick Licata.
