Kim Allen

• Age: 50

• Marital status: Married

• Children: Daughter Caitlin, age 18, a freshman at Stanford University; and son Jack age 13, 8th-grader at International Community School, Lake Washington School District.

• Education: Detroit College of Law/Michigan State University — Juris Doctor — Cum Laude; University of Michigan, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science.

• Occupation: Redmond City Councilmember; Land Use Hearing Examiner-Sound Law Center

• Campaign Web site: www.kimonthecouncil.com

• Campaign e-mail: kim@kimonthecouncil.com

• Top 3 endorsements: Redmond Police Officers Association, Washington Conservation Voters, the endorsement of many of Redmond’s legislative delegation in Olympia.

• What are the three biggest challenges facing the City of Redmond in 2010?

Added to the big issues of transportation, growth management, and the environment, Redmond has additional challenges. First is the continuity of our voice with those who can help us. Retiring Council President Nancy McCormick is a strong advocate in transportation. She trained me well.

My first job as a councilmember is effectively communicating Redmond’s position and needs in many arenas. My life as a prosecutor and an advocate supplied the skills for this job. I go to Olympia every year to let our legislators know what we need and a number of them have endorsed my re-election. I speak for Redmond on public safety and regional growth management. You often have only a few minutes to present Redmond’s case. They hear what I have to say. Look at the Chamber of Commerce candidate debate and the candidate videos on my Web site and decide who you believe should speak for you.

Redmond’s next challenge is how we will grow.

Redmond is maturing from a small farming community to a vital city. As planning commissioner, I was educated in land use and urban planning but I learned a lot about the vision for Redmond we share. The people of Redmond are so diverse — we include those who saw Redmond change from one stoplight to this growing urban center, folks from other states and nations drawn here by employment, senior citizens on a fixed income and young, affluent computer professionals. We are building a Redmond for all of them. That job sends me out in the community, talking to neighbors, attending community events and reality checking the work the Council does to move that vision forward. It’s my job to have everyone’s input in mind as we decide how Redmond will grow and to build a place we all want to call home.

The final challenge is making city government work better for you. I ran for this job four years ago because it was too hard for folks to be heard at City Hall.

I worked to change the code where it put neighbors at a disadvantage to developers. I helped write a government guide for our Web site so you have a roadmap to how your city operates.

I am Council’s lead as we start a zoning code rewrite, so you know what new growth will look like and so you don’t have to be a city planner to remodel your own home. Our Web site should work so you can pull a permit or pay your water bill online, without a trip downtown. I want neighbors to plan the next steps for Redmond and to use their energy and creativity to make the city more beautiful, more sustainable, and a great place.

SALLY CHEN

• Age: 26

• Marital status: Married

• Children: none

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, University of Illinois.

• Occupation: Retail Sales Manager

• Campaign Web site: www.sallyjchen.com

• Campaign e-mail: info@sallyjchen.com

• Top 3 endorsements: Attorney General Rob McKenna, Redmond City Councilman David Carson, Redmond City Councilman Hank Myers

1. Lower city revenues from sales and property taxes means a tighter budget. Now more than ever is the time for responsible well-planned spending. I will never consider raising taxes, authorizing unspecified levies, and raising fees simply to close budget gaps. I will manage your money respectfully because people can’t magically make more money to make ends meet. I hold government to the same standard. I will always fund public safety with first-dollar revenue.

2. City Council is about service. I will improve communication between the city and community.

It is our duty not only to make thoughtful decisions, but also to let our neighbors know what they are and why. It is about working for the people: keeping their taxes low, doing what we can to create jobs, and making smart, long term decisions. I welcome conversations with citizens about how the city is doing—there is no substitute for direct input from the community.

3. Bringing new perspective to problems is what I offer for 2010. It has been my pleasure meeting so many people on the campaign trail. Experiencing first-hand what our citizens want and expect from government, coupled with the fact that I am not an entrenched politician, leads to clear judgment on issues. I truly believe in the duty to serve and never will my interests outweigh those of the people. Redmond’s next generation lacks representation on council and it is our time to help shoulder responsibility.