2008 – News about Councilmember Reagan Dunn

November 24, 2008
Come to the fair: Council restores King County Fair for 2009, looks toward future
"The fair should never have been cancelled. It represents our heritage and our future. This event first started during the Civil War. The 4-H kids who show their animals at the fair every year learn valuable lessons that serve them and us well for the rest of their lives. I'm pleased that the Council agreed with me that it had to be saved."

November 24, 2008
Dunn's priorities for 2009 County Budget: fiscal discipline and law enforcement
"We moved the ball forward today towards a more fiscally sound general fund. By not spending all of our reserves, we left the budget in a better position for what could be a very difficult 2010."

November 17, 2008
Councilmembers call for task force to find ways to sustain the King County Fair, should it be saved in 2009 budget
"We will engage local stakeholders, community leaders and fair experts to revive the fair. With the right people at the table, I'm confident that we can develop a plan to revitalize this cherished event."

November 14, 2008
Major public safety, construction and repair projects are completed ahead of schedule
"While the Flood District has accomplished a great deal this year, we're already thinking about 2009. We want to ensure that the county continues to meet our targeted deadlines and make the safety improvements necessary to protect people, homes and commerce."

October 27, 2008
Statement from County Council leadership on unpaid employee furlough
We believe that as elected officials we need to make the same personal sacrifices that we are asking of our valued County employees.

October 27, 2008
"Extinction is not an option" in fight to save Puget Sound orcas and salmon
"We have a duty to ourselves and our children to restore our salmon populations. After all, the health of our salmon determines the environmental health of our county."

October 23, 2008
Dunn calls for cap on spending and creation of rainy-day reserve fund
"With the economy in crisis and with the already high tax burden on our citizens, I am unwilling to tax people any more. In the last three years, King County has enacted nine different tax increases. Enough is enough."

October 20, 2008
Crackdown on illegal dumping: County Council holds dumpers financially responsible
"Illegal dumping is a serious problem for public health and safety. It's also a significant source of environmental damage. We will now have new tools for catching those who would put our citizens at risk."

October 6, 2008
Dunn puts district first in votes on King County Comprehensive Plan update
"My district has a large swath of unincorporated King County. Some of the most controversial questions directly affect my constituents. I put the best interest of the citizens in my district first when deciding how to vote."

October 6, 2008
Dunn and Sims propose waiving the landfill fees for victims of illegal dumping
"We know we can't catch everyone who breaks the law, so we need to help the victims--especially those victims that can't afford the cost of disposing of the trash that someone else dumped on their property."

October 5, 2008
Councilmembers call for King County to get out of the business of operating animal shelters
"We need to find a better solution for sheltering animals in King County."

September 29, 2008
Issaquah-Hobart Road study gets go-ahead
"I am pleased that we can finally get to work on studying the congestion and safety issues on the Issaquah-Hobart Road. The road continues to get more congested, which is affecting our quality of life and the safety of our community."

September 22, 2008
County Council recognizes Purple Light Nights against domestic violence
"This group is raising awareness and sending a message that domestic violence will not be tolerated in our Community. Purple Light Nights is an innovative way to raise awareness and give strength to victims."

August 21, 2008
Getting tough on illegal dumping: Dunn introduces legislation to strengthen current dumping laws
"As a resident of rural King County, I see the evidence of illegal dumping every day. This law will make people think twice before they dump garbage on our roads or property."

July 28, 2008
Greater cooperation, safer neighborhoods: Council adopts Dunn Drug House Legislation
"This legislation will go a long way towards strengthening cooperation between property owners, tenants, and the County to ensure safer neighborhoods for law-abiding citizens."

July 22, 2008
Crews racing to complete emergency levee repairs before winter
"A lot of them were constructed years ago by farmers to protect their crops. Now these levees are being expected to protect hundreds of millions of dollars invested in homes, businesses, public buildings and roads. We need to do more to maintain and improve them."

July 10, 2008
Council Republicans call for repeal of Critical Area Ordinance's rural area clearing limits
"My colleagues and I urge the Council to act on this, thereby saving our county taxpayers two more years of unnecessary legal bills."

July 7 2008
County Council Republicans hail court reversal of Critical Areas Ordinance
"The CAO was a blunt instrument used to strip King County residents of their property rights. Today's ruling is a vindication for families who are struggling under the weight of these onerous regulations."

June 20, 2008
Board of Health acts to reduce risk of groundwater and shorelines contamination
"Protecting our shorelines is critical in ensuring toxins don't contaminate our shellfish and other marine life. As food prices increase, we must make sure we protect our local sources of water and food."

June 18, 2008
Dunn partners with Wal-Mart to save K-9 Unit
"I am pleased that Wal-Mart decided to fund this important program and has chosen to be such a good community partner."

June 9, 2008
Council calls for study of unintended consequences of using biofuel
"I sponsored this legislation because I believe we need to find out if biodiesel is actually delivering on the promises of reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout its full life cycle - from the soil to the gas tank. If it's not, then there is no sense in spending money that could be funding additional bus service or offsetting the impacts of increasing gas prices."

June 9, 2008
Council receives recommendations on protecting personal information of King County citizens
"As our society becomes more dependent on the Internet for information, I'm hopeful that this committee will help King County maintain an appropriate balance between access and protection of personal information in the years to come."

May 27, 2008
County Council confirms members of advisory committee on permitting
"County permitting is often a long, complex process that is challenging for working class families. Making our rules more transparent will lead to faster, more efficient permitting and reduce costs for everyone. I'm confident this Committee will find ways to improve the financial bottom line for families who are building or improving their homes."

May 8, 2008
Dunn calls for study to examine potentially harmful biofuel impacts
"Half the world is starving and we are burning food in our gas tanks. We need to rethink this policy and examine all of the consequences."

May 5, 2008
Council preserves options for rail and trail in historic agreement with Port to bring Eastside Rail Corridor into public ownership
"This is a historic day for the future of the Eastside. We had an opportunity to keep the corridor in public ownership and with final action by the Port we will have done it. At the same time, we were able to maintain our commitment to rails and trails."

May 5, 2008
Dunn expands bus service to SE King County
"Many citizens in Southeast King County want to take the bus but they just don't have any options. Now they have a few more."

May 5, 2008
County Council calls for rebid of federal tanker contract
"We have the best aerospace company in the world located right here in the United States. Boeing has the expertise and the experience to build tankers and they should get a fair opportunity to bid for a new contract. It's too important for our national defense and our economy to let this go."

April 28, 2008
Council backs affordable workforce housing in Renton, Kent and Burien
"The increasing cost of land, construction, and complex regulations have made housing affordability a top issue in this county. I am committed to helping residents, particularly seniors and those with low incomes, keep their homes in these challenging economic times."

April 9, 2008
"Misguided land-use regulations push middle class out of King County"
Seattle Times OpEd by Councilmember Reagan Dunn, Russell Hokanson and Samuel L. Anderson
"If we don't act soon, we know where this road will lead us. In the Bay Area, median home prices have soared to $850,000, with San Francisco leading the way as the most-regulated metropolitan city in the United States. Seattle is not far behind at No. 6. When it comes to the most-regulated states, Washington ranks No. 7 -- even more restrictive than California at No. 9."

April 3, 2008
Dunn Completes Annual District Swing
"The people I represent on the Council live in an area that is larger than the state of Rhode Island, with interests and concerns as varied as the communities in which they live. To best serve those communities, it is vital to build relationships and have open channels of communication with community leaders. They are the local representatives for the residents of District 9, and they provide me with valuable information on how I can work with them on a regional level."

March 24, 2008
More bus service on major routes throughout the county thanks to new transit partnerships
"The partnership program is an innovative way to involve businesses, cities and the broader community to expand our transportation system. With the amazing ridership growth we have witnessed in the past few years, there will be a definite need for more resources in the years to come."

February 29, 2008
"Tax transparency" is in the mail
"King County collects taxes for hundreds of local taxing districts. Property owners can now have the convenience of paying their taxes through their mortgage and have a better understanding of all the services they are paying for."

February 19, 2008
Lindbergh Community Pool transferred to Renton School District
The incorporation of the Benson Hill community into the city of Renton continued with unanimous approval by the King County Council of an agreement transferring the Lindbergh Community Pool--also known as the Renton Pool-- from King County to the Renton School District.

January 28, 2008
Dunn Applauds "Donut Hole" Decision
"Now is the time to bring Maple Valley to the table"

January 25, 2008
Noted legislator and coal miner Abe Morris honored at grand opening of new Chinook Building
"Through hard work and the admiration of his colleagues, Abe Morris grew to be the most respected mining official in his day .It is an honor to be able to name the 9th floor of the county's new building after this true pioneer from District 9."