Two Islanders have jumped into the race for the open seat on the board that oversees King County Water District 19, the Island’s largest water purveyor and an agency that often finds itself in the center of contentious issues.
Islander Bob Powell, an engineer and entrepreneur, and Marty Liebowitz, an architect, took advantage of a special three-day filing period to enter the contest. When King County’s filing period ended June 5, no one had filed for the seat; now, after the county offered up extra time for people to file for vacant seats, it’s become one of only a few on the Island that’s contested.
Powell, 49, an Islander active in Vashon’s civic affairs who recently started a small company that manufactures broadforks for no-till or low-till gardening, said he decided to run for the office because it’s “a service position … that’s the best match for my skills.”
Adding that he wants to see Vashon remain environmentally healthy and socially and economically diverse, he added, “I want to be an advocate for our environment and ensure a dependable supply of water. I also want to be an advocate for affordable housing.”
If elected, Powell said it would give him the opportunity “to pursue a sustainability agenda to try to bring to Vashon some ideas that have been tried elsewhere in the world that seem to be working pretty well. I’m thinking of communities in England and other parts of the United States … that are trying to change their everyday practices … to make a more efficient and sustainable use of natural and economic resources.”
Liebowitz, 63, who moved to the Island a few years ago and splits his time between Vashon and Seattle, also has a history of service; he currently serves on a citizens’ advisory committee helping the city develop a larger tree canopy to address climate change.
He said he’s been attending District 19 meetings for the past year or so and decided to run after two Islanders called him and encouraged him to enter the race.
If elected, he said he’d explore conservation measures and other means to free up some water shares and address a waiting list for water that is now about 100 people long.
“I’m very perplexed by the whole dilemma of a big waiting list and a limited resource and people posturing on all sides,” he said, adding, “I’m a strong believer in science … and making decisions based on good facts. I don’t believe in freeing up water shares randomly because people want water shares.”
The seat is the one currently held by Frank Jackson, who chairs the board. He’s stepping down at the end of his six-year term, noting that “six years is long enough.”
