Politics & Government

Meet Al Taylor, Candidate for Woodinville City Council

Taylor is challenging incumbent Scott Hageman.

This is part of a series of candidate profiles Patch will be bringing you for the 2011 elections.

What is your full, legal name

Al Taylor (Alfred H. Taylor)

Where do you work and what is your job title? 

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The Boeing Company, Engineer for the 787 Dreamliner. A 25 year engineering career at Boeing, AT&T Wireless, Microsoft and Rockwell Automation where I have led technical teams, have led projects from conceptual design through implementation, and have returned sizeable cost savings back to companies.

Age 

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50

Where do you live now and how long have you lived there? 

My wife, Debbie, and I moved into our home in the Wellington-Leota neighborhood in 1996.

Spouse or domestic partner if any:

Debbie Taylor (married 24 years)

Children:

Alexandra Taylor, a sophomore at Woodinville High School

Andrew Taylor, a freshman at Leota Junior High School

Education:

Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Masters of Business Administration (MBA) - University of Phoenix

Certified Project Manager & IT Certified Project Manager - PM Leadership Group, Atlanta, GA

Military Service (include year(s) of discharge, if any): none

Memberships and affiliations with clubs and other organizations:

Washington Electronics Manufacturers Association (EMA) - elected board member, past president

Tau Beta Pi - National Engineering Honor Society

Alpha Pi Mu - National Industrial Engineering Honor Society

Have you or a business you owned (or had principal interest in) ever filed bankruptcy?  No

As an adult, have you been convicted or charged with a crime other than a minor traffic violation? No

CAMPAIGN INFORMATION:

Web site:  http://www.altaylor2011.com 
Email address: Al@altaylor2011.com
Phone number:  206-383-6714
Campaign manager:  self

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE(S):

Elected: 

Woodinville Emergency Preparedness and Safety Commission - commissioner (appointed 2007- present)

King County Precinct Committee Officer (GOP) - Precinct #2769 serving Wellington-Leota neighborhood (2008-present)

Washington Electronics Manufacturers Association - elected to Board (1999-present); served as President (2005-2006)


THIS CAMPAIGN:

What is the primary reason you are running for this office?

First, as 15 year residents, my family and I are committed to preserving and enhancing the quality of life this community has to offer going into the future.  Woodinville is a small city with only 5.5 square miles and about 10,000 residents--the small size is a blessing and gives us its charm but that needs to be managed properly as we grow.  It has been disconcerting witnessing how easily some of our city leaders seem to have forgotten their essential bond of trust with their constituents as they are led astray by small interest groups with deep pockets set on leading zoning decisions, financial commitments and long-term decisions that threaten the viability of our current lifestyle. 

Recent additions to the council - Susan Boundy-Sanders, Bernie Talmas, Paulette Bauman and Jeff Glickman validate my belief that the residents of Woodinville are like-minded for a leadership renewal that emphasizes representative governance; however, it is very apparent that they cannot be expected to carry the burden for the entire community.  I am running for Position 4 against an incumbent who for 16 years has proclaimed to be a leader for lowering taxes, improving traffic, developing downtown with a small town feel and providing pedestrian access from the neighborhoods to the downtown. Yet this has not been his track record. Under the incumbent's watch and with his votes over the last 16 years, my opponent has given us: 

  • Higher property tax rates in the city
  • New utility taxes on businesses and residents alike
  • New entertainment tax
  • Expanded capital-draining projects, voting to approve issuance of councilmatic bonds (debt) to fund our new City Hall building that has cost $10,000,000 to house approx. 30 employees; after the citizens rejected this proposal twice on official ballots
  • Bloated City Hall staffing to 67 employees (City Hall now houses approximately 30 employees after recent council vote– not including Hageman – pared this number down to that required to maintain essential service levels).
  • Failed to file opposition to the King County Brightwater sewer plants placement next door to Woodinville.
  • New 60 foot building heights with unlimited foot prints in the downtown
  • After 16 years of promises still no development of pedestrian access from our neighborhoods to the downtown nor safe sidewalks for school children walking to and from our schools.

After 16 years of not delivering, our community needs someone who can work with council members elected in the last election to restore fiscal responsibility and community trust without raising and creating new taxes. In these tough economic times we need to realign the policies of the city to promote achievement of goals through collaboration with business partners, volunteers, and residents to put our city back on track toward being the envy of neighboring communities.  I will focus my experience in the private sector and civic involvement to represent our citizens in meeting today's challenges and laying out a path to achieve our goals within the city; thus, preserving the quality of life that we hold dear in Woodinville.

What will be your top priorities if you get elected and why?

1.  Cut taxes levied on residents and businesses - I propose to work with the council majority to explore ways to roll back the city’s portion of the property tax increases by at least 1% per year for the next 4 years.  In historical context in the years beginning with incorporation through 2006 the council raised the cities portion of our property tax’s at least 1% every year for a total increase exceeding 12% under my opponent's leadership.  In addition, under my opponent's leadership, Woodinville City Council levied a temporary (now permanent) utility tax for both business and residents of up to 4% for utility bills such as electricity, gas, phones, cable and internet that I will seek to study and roll back.   The residents and country are experiencing tough economic times and I believe that city government should scale itself as well.   In addition to putting a little change back in the community's pockets, this effort will demonstrate to area small business people that Woodinville is committed to attracting their business and jobs and that the commitment is real --not just campaign fodder to receive votes.

2.  Complete the Woodinville Master Plan - I have spoken with many people at their door steps and at city meetings who share my observation that our 5.5 square mile city looks more like a chess board than a cohesive community.  Planning efforts piecemeal and compartmentalize districts instead of working toward a larger vision.  I propose that the planning commission be expanded to include the formation of citizen/business advisory teams tasked to work on specific project deliverables such as road improvements for traffic handling, branding elements to tie the entire city together (decorative planters, signs, landscape features, etc.) under a common theme, and neighborhood features for housing densities (I advocate maintaining growth by in-filling at established zoning and bringing entry-level residential into the downtown), identifying setbacks,  and sidewalks.  Our community has become a tourist attraction for its 80+ wineries, yet we have not worked enough on preparing for the infrastructure necessary to guide tourists from major roads, nor identified tour bus parking, or even worked with the industry to guide tourists once here.  History has shown that communities that do not support their home industries often find those businesses cherry-picked by more aggressive neighbors that are hungrier for the sales tax revenue potentials.  Let’s not lose that which makes our community well-known internationally. There is much work that needs to be coordinated and finished, before the next economic boom threatens the landscape of our city and I will work toward making sure that we are ready.

3.  Provide for essential Public Services - I am committed to assuring that police and road maintenance priorities are foremost in operational budgets to assure the safety of all residents and businesses.  I support the recent work that the majority of current council members have initiated by adding police to assist at our schools, calming traffic on our streets, funding for increased repaving of roads, and funding for public works teams to clear snow routes and debris after our storms.  As one of the founding commissioners on the Woodinville Emergency Preparedness and Safety Commission, I advocate for more citizen advisory teams to form and work with police, emergency, and neighborhood groups to identify needs and promote options for implementation.  My opponent states his goals in this area; however, he has had 16 years to enact them. His record shows that he had voted against increasing safety proposals many times during that tenure.  I seek to emphasize safety projects.

4. Open Government - I respect the voice of my neighbors.  One of the stretch goals for my candidacy will be finding a better way for collecting information regarding support for or against a council agenda item, especially when it comes to prioritizing limited funding for capital projects.  As a bystander within many Woodinville Council audiences, I've witnessed great demonstrations of free-speech delivered by passionate supporters from both sides of a discussion that only leading to frustrating votes made by the council.  I will challenge my new colleagues on the council to consider methods for allowing public 'advisory votes' on select initiatives or initiate council procedures calling for council super majority votes on any item that requires increase of taxes or councilmatic  bonds.  I believe that the technology exists to provide statistically valid input without going through the expense of a King County Elections ballot.  Again, this represents new thinking for solving a problem that my opponent has not made progress in his 16 years.  As many may recall, my opponent, as presiding mayor, routinely silenced public comments and even tried to silence opposing council members during their turn to speak--is this the behavior that we want to perpetuate on our council?  I plan to serve respectfully.

What sets you apart from the other candidates and/or previous office holders?

I come to the council race prepared to lead and contribute.  Prior to running, I have done my due diligence by attending council meetings since 2005, speaking and writing letters delivered to the council on numerous subjects, researching historical archives and positions for issues, and volunteering to serve as appointed commissioner for the Woodinville Emergency Planning and Safety Commission.  My education and technical problem-solving experience are complimentary to working on the council without presenting any undue bias.  My opponent is a respected neighbor; however after 4 terms (16 years) he has not achieved the goals he states, now or in past voter pamphlets and we cannot afford a return to the same style of government that exploded our staff count and raised our taxes. In the last 4 years our city has finally become a leaner more productive organization. We need to continue that trend and not go back to the easy solutions of higher staff levels, higher taxes and lower productivity.

How much money do you expect your campaign to spend on this election?

My campaign is subject to Washington Public Disclosure rules outlined for the operation of a Mini-Reporting campaign to maintain costs under $5,000. 

Official endorsements:

Toby Nixon– Former Washington State Representative / Kirkland Council Candidate

Paul Cowles – Vice Chair Woodinville Parks & Recreation/former Bothell Mayor

Fred Green – Founding President for Concerned Neighbors of Wellington (CNW)

Susan Boundy-Sanders – Woodinville Council Member & Democratic Party PCO

Bernie Talmas – Mayor of Woodinville

Jeff Glickman – Deputy Mayor of Woodinville & former President CNW

Hank Stecker – Former Deputy Mayor of Woodinville & current Board CNW

Mike Roskind – Former Woodinville Council member

Nancy Montgomery – Vice-Chair Woodinville Emergency Preparedness Commission
Steve Yabroff – Woodinville Planning Commissioner

Greg Fazzio –Chair Woodinville Parks and Recreation Commission

Peter Tountas – Former Chair of Woodinville Emergency Preparedness Commission

Dave Henry – Open Government Advocate & Citizen of Woodinville

Eastside Republicans Club

King County GOP

Dollie Kosters

Joe Fuiten


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