August 12, 2009
For Immediate Release
Scott Whiteaker, 206-303-9716
Matchup between Phillips, Hutchison reveals who knows how to run King County and who has no clue
Hutchison’s responses simplistic, inaccurate
Seattle, WA – A one-on-one matchup today on KUOW between King County Executive candidates Larry Phillips and Susan Hutchison offered voters two distinct choices for managing King County’s $5 billion government. Phillips responded to questions about the environment and King County’s budget confidently and competently, revealing his deep grasp of the issues. Hutchison responded with shallow, evasive answers that revealed her inexperience and lack of familiarity with county issues.
Some of Hutchison’s gaffs included:
- Saying she would balance King County’s budget by eliminating duplication and referencing six King County homelessness agencies as an example. No such agencies exist in King County government.
- Calling for transferring money from King County’s general fund to clean up the Duwamish River, which Phillips pointed out is illegal and can’t be done.
- Comparing her experience managing the two-person Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences to the experience necessary for managing King County’s 13,000 employees.
- Comparing her experience at the Seattle Symphony soliciting wealthy donors to reduce a budget deficit from $3.2 million to $2.9 million to the experience necessary to close King County’s $56 million budget deficit.
Phillips, by contrast, presented clear visions for protecting Maury Island, cleaning up Puget Sound and the Duwamish River, and balancing King County’s budget.
While Hutchison continued to deny her Republican roots despite mounting evidence to the contrary, Phillips presented himself transparently as a proud lifelong Democrat who has garnered broad support and brought people of all ideologies together to solve problems.
Listen to the debate at http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=18147.
# # #