If you missed attending a forum or event you may be able to watch online.
Scroll the list below to find by date. Recent events held via Zoom can be found on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. Past public LWV forums were sometimes archived by King County TV, Seattle Channel, and TVW.
October 26, 2023: Homelessness: Unveiling the "How" - Real Stories, Real People
This is the first event in a four-part series of panels called "Homelessness: How Did We Get Here?" The series explores homelessness in depth, with the goal of broadening public awareness and understanding of this complex issue. Attendees heard from policy experts, researchers, lawmakers, and people with lived experience of homelessness. We covered risk factors for homelessness, challenge biases and stereotypes around the issue, evaluate local efforts to reduce homelessness, and explore policy solutions from other areas.
See the video on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7jKb3u_N-E
October, 2023: Candidates Forums
LWVSKC held, co-sponsored, or assisted at numerous forums. Not all were videotaped but links to all the post forum information is below.
Burien
City Council Candidate Forum
Held on October 3 at the Burien King County Library
Co-hosted by the King County Library
Video
Lake Forest Park
Mayor & City Council Candidate Forum
Held on October 9 at Third Place Commons
not recorded; News post
Highline School District
School Board Candidate Forum
Held on October 10 at the Burien King County Library
Co-hosted by the King County Library
Video
Seattle
Seattle City Council District 1 Candidate Forum
Held on October 10 at the West Seattle Our Lady of Guadelupe School
Co-hosted with OLG Justice Committee and Westside Interfaith Network
News blog with video
Des Moines
City Council Candidate Forum
Held on October 16 at Des Moines Wesley Homes
Co-hosted by Des Moines Wesley Homes
Video
Seattle
School Board Candidates Forum
Held on October 16; Zoom webinar with livestream
Co-hosted with Seattle Council PTSA, NAACP Youth Committee and Greater Seattle Business Coalition
Video
Shoreline
School Board Candidate Forum
Held on October 16 at the Shoreline Center
Hosted by Shoreline PTA Council; League moderated
not recorded; News Post
Mercer Island
City Council and School Board Candidate Forum
Held on October 18 at Islander Middle School
Co-hosted with Mercer Island Preschool Association and PTA Council 2.9
Video
Seattle
Seattle and King County Council Candidates Forum
Seattle City Council District 6 and 7, and King County Council District 4
Hosted by the Magnolia Community Council at the Our Lady of Fatima Church
Video (in two parts; County position in part 1; Seattle positions in part 2)
April 13, 2023: King County Crisis Centers Property Tax Levy Forum
LWVSKC co-sponsored a virtual forum with The Seattle Times Mental Health Project.
The subject: the King County Crisis Centers Property Tax Levy. The levy was on the King County ballot for the April 25 Special Election. The proposed levy would support the creation of five new regional crisis care centers distributed throughout the county, with one of the centers solely focused on serving youth. The crisis care centers would provide immediate crisis services on a walk-in basis to people experiencing behavioral health (mental health and substance use disorder) crises. It would also restore mental health residential treatment bed capacity and expand treatment availability and sustainability in King County, and support area behavioral health workforce needs.
If passed, this proposal would authorize an additional nine-year property tax levy for collection beginning in 2024 at $0.145 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
Panelists
Girmay Zahilay, King County Councilmember
Leo Flor, Director, King County Department of Community and Human Services
Michelle Conley, REACH Director of Integrated Care
Maggie Hostnick, Director of Clinical Programs, Downtown Emergency Services Center
Moderator
Michelle Baruchman, engagement editor for the Seattle Times Mental Health Project
View the recording of the forum on YouTube.
March 30, 2023: The Decline of Local News Forum - Bob Ferguson
LWVSKC joined with the Puget Sound Rotary Passport Club to present a discussion with WA Attorney General Bob Ferguson on The Decline of Local News. This is a continuation of the conversation we started last December with our forum based on the phenomenally comprehensive LWVWA study of this issue. This spring, we held consensus meetings to consider adopting new positions on this topic. Now we get to hear the Attorney General's view of the issue.
View the recording the forum on YouTube.
March 9, 2023: Film Discussion - Love in the Time of Fentanyl
We held a virtual Forum to discuss the film LOVE IN THE TIME OF FENTANYL. Set in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, LOVE IN THE TIME OF FENTANYL is an intimate, observational look beyond the stigma of injection drug users, revealing the courage of those facing terrible tragedy in a neighborhood often referred to as ground zero of the overdose crisis. The movie follows a group of misfits, artists, and drug users who operate a renegade safe injection site in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. It portrays a community fighting to save lives and keep hope alive in a neighborhood ravaged by the overdose crisis.
Watch the film here.
Learn more about the event here.
January 26, 2023: King Conservation District Board Candidate Forum
We presented a public online forum on Thursday, January 26 at 7pm featuring the three candidates for Seat #3 on the Board of Supervisors of the King Conservation District. Questions from audience members are the centerpiece of League forums. Audience members were encouraged to submit questions in advance for the candidates to VoterServices@lwvskc.org before noon on Wednesday, January 25. The candidates (in alphabetical order by surname) are April Brown, Csenka Favorini-Csorba and Chris L. Porter. All three candidates have agreed to participate in this forum.
Not familiar with the KCD and want to know more about them? Click here.
View the recording of the candidate forum here.
January 12, 2023: Program Planning Forum
January started with planning for the coming year. We observed the upcoming special elections and holding a candidate forum, tracking and lobbying during the legislative session, and more!
December 1, 2022: Decline of Local News Forum - Dee Anne Finken
Tune in to learn how the decline of local news is affecting our communities in Washington. How has the closure of more than two dozen newspapers and the loss of more than two-thirds of our newspaper reporters and editors impacted our civic engagement, political participation and partisanship, public finance and public health?
A 10-member League of Women Voters committee shares highlights of a 20-month study that included interviews with more than 50 stakeholders and the review of more than 500 articles, reports and other documents.
Watch the recording on YouTube.
October 20, 2022: Election Reform Advocacy Forum
The election forum was a virtual forum when we gathered election and voting experts to review and discuss proposed election changes. The goal of the forum was to increase your understanding of the measures, answer your questions, and explain why the LWVSKC has endorsed them.
Watch it on YouTube.
September 8, 2022: Public Safety and the Role of the King County Prosecutor
The King County Prosecutor’s race was on the ballot last November, and we wanted you to be an informed voter! We covered what the prosecutor does and how their decisions affect public safety. We examined the impact of prosecutorial discretion throughout the course of a criminal case by looking at what happens once someone has been arrested.
Visit our YouTube page to view the recording.
July 21, 2022: Candidate Forum for King County Prosecutor
LWVSKC hosted a forum featuring candidates for King County Prosecuting Attorney, Jim Ferrell and Leesa Manion. Judge Dean Lum (ret. King County Superior Court) moderated. Held in-person as well as live on video at the Renton Civic Theatre
Learn more about the forum and the role of King County Prosecutor in the The Voter.
Video of the forum can be found on King County TV and it will be broadcast on Cable Channel 22
May 5, 2022: Discussion of Film Since I Been Down
The film was available for online view May 2 to May 7. Discussion was held on Zoom but not recorded.
Learn more about it in the The Voter.
April 7, 2022: Claiming The Power of The Classroom
At our April forum we explored the current challenges facing teachers and how we can support them.
— Emilie Hard, Director of Equity, Tahoma Schools, moderated our discussion.
— Teddi Beam-Conroy, Ph.D., Director, Elementary Teacher Education, University of Washington
— Shajaira López, Ed.D., Director of Secondary Language Learning, Highline Public Schools│Language Learning Dept.
— Jennifer Matter, President of Seattle Education Association
— Toni O’Neal M.Ed., Professional Growth and Educator Support (PGES), Consulting Teacher, Human Resources, Seattle Schools
— Mike Simmons, Director of Talent Management, Seattle Schools
Learn more and find a list of resources in the The Voter.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x6GdPWVFoc&feature=youtu.be
Share you responses to our discussion questions.
March 3, 2022: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Our March forum featured panelists from each level of the League (local, state, and national) who provided insight on how our organization is moving forward on our commitment to DEI.
— Saunatina Sanchez, our Member Coordinator, moderated the forum with panelists:
— Liz Bander, Director, League of Women Voters of the U.S.
— Tania Hino, Director-at-Large, League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County
— Heather Kelly, President, League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County
— Julie Sarkissian, Director, League of Women Voters of Washington
Visit our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in our League page for a list of resources.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/y_dzjheCPjQ
February 24, 2022: Seattle Climate Guide Update and Engagement
A Seattle-specific update and discussion around climate action. Explore ways we can put our interest in climate action to work as League members to ensure our great city is a successful model for the region around climate!
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QhZHyiblB7Q
February 3, 2022: Climate Justice: Down with Carbon Emissions — Up with Community Equity!
In our region, the climate crisis will demand substantial community engagement and investments in resilient infrastructure. The LWVSKC City Climate Action Committee is working to increase democratic engagement of residents in King County to support our cities in meeting their climate action goals. At this forum, a diverse panel of local experts shared their perspectives and answered compelling questions to guide our work on climate in our region. Our panel included:
— Nives Dolšak, Stan and Alta Barer Professor in Sustainability Science, Director, School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
— Lylianna Allala, Climate Justice Director, City of Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment
— Michael Carter, Green Jobs Program Manager, King County
— Constance McBarron, Communications and Engagement Lead, Earthlab, University of Washington
— Pah-tu Pitt, Native Kut, member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
— Vicky Raya, Climate Equity & Community Partnerships Program Manager, King County
Visit the CCAC page for more information on this work.
Find a list of resources here.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XSnnwlazHKI
January 6, 2022: Program Planning Forum
In League lingo, “Program” consists of the body of issues we choose for study, education and action. Program can include both education and advocacy work. At our January Forum, League members met to discuss climate, civics education, criminal justice reform, urban sprawl and transportation, public safety, current issues affecting tribes, and democracy reform. The work continues!
December 2, 2021: Homelessness: A New Approach? Or More of the Same?
The program will reviewed the many causes and effects of homelessness, and current and planned approaches to prevent and mitigate this county-wide problem. Moderated by Erica C. Barnett, Publisher/Editor of PubliCola, our panel discussion included:
— Marc Dones, Chief Executive Officer, King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA)
— Alison Eisinger, Executive Director, Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness (SKCCH pronounced “Skitch”)
— Daniel Malone, Executive Director, Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC)
— Cynthia Stewart, Housing and Homeless Issue Chair, League of Women Voters of Washington (LWVWA)
Visit the event page for resources.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGnZlISwkxU
November 4, 2021: The Behavioral Health System in King County: Challenges, Innovations and Opportunities in Addressing Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
LWVSKC and The Seattle Times Mental Health Project held a virtual forum on the current state of publicly funded Behavioral Health (mental health and substance use disorders) treatment and services in King County. The forum was moderated by Hannah Furfaro, Reporter for the Seattle Times Mental Health Project. Panelists included:
— Sharayah Lane, Acting Program Manager at Philanthropy Northwest, Member of the Lummi Nation, and Person with Lived Experience
— Isabel Jones, Deputy Director of Behavioral Health for King County
— Representative Nicole Macri, State Representative for the 43 legislative district who also serves as Deputy Director for Strategy at the Downtown Emergency Services Center
— Jim Vollendroff, Behavioral Health Senior Advisor for Policy and Advocacy for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington
Visit our Health Care page for more resources.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYDmPllYBwM
October 2021 Candidate Forums
LWVSKC held eight Candidate Forums in the run-up to the November General Election. Please visit our Event Calendar for more information. Some forums are available on our YouTube channel for viewing.
September 2, 2021: DE-ESCALATION: Laws, Training and Implementation
Voters of Washington passed Initiative I-940 in 2018 in an effort to establish higher training requirements and police accountability standards. Two important goals were to reduce police actions that lead to violent interactions and potentially death (de-escalation) and to create independent investigations when excessive forced is used. The 2021 State legislative session passed a number of bills to accomplish these goals. Since LWVWA endorsed I-940 we are monitoring developments in the law and implementation. We explored the evolution of de-escalation laws over the last few years, perspectives on what constitutes “successful” de-escalation and how that can be achieved, and some of the challenges in implementing recent laws. Amil Radil of KUOW moderated our panel:
— Rafael Padilla, Chief of Police in Kent, WA
— Leslie Cushman, citizen advocate for I-940
— Monica Alexander, Exec. Director of the WA Criminal Justice Training Commission
— Roger Goodman, Washington Representative
— Sonia Joseph, advocate for social justice and police reform
— Jan Tokumoto, COO of Frontier Behavioral Health in Spokane, WA.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/q5VDgWbCkV0
July 19, 2021: Election Forum - City of Seattle Mayor
- Co-sponsored by LWVSKC's First Hill Unit and Horizon House Residents' Council Election Forums Committee
- City of Seattle, Mayor: Clinton Bliss, Colleen Echohawk, Jessyn Farrell, M. Lorena Gonzalez, Bruce Harrell, Andrew Grant Houston, Arthur K. Langlie, Lance Randall, Casey Sixkiller
- Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pAjfp9qvX0c
July 12, 2021: Election Forum - County Executive & Seattle School Board
- Co-sponsored by LWVSKC's First Hill Unit and Horizon House Residents' Council Election Forums Committee
- King County Executive - Dow Constantine, Joe Nguyen
- Seattle School Director, District No. 5 - Dan Harder, Michelle Sarju
- Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/m9sgZBpbQJ0
July 8, 2021: Election Forum - Seattle City Council Position 8 & 9
- Co-sponsored by LWVSKC's First Hill Unit and Horizon House Residents' Council Election Forums Committee
- Seattle Council Position 8 - Kate Martin, Teresa Mosqueda, Jordan Elizabeth Fisher, Paul Felipe Glumaz, Bobby Lindsey Miller
- Seattle Council Position 9 - Cory Eichner, Sara Nelson, Nikkita Oliver, Xtian Gunther, Brianna K. Thomas
- Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB2Vpzo9VCc
April 17/24, 2021: Speak Up School
- Learning sessions were held on Zoom about redistricting and how to give public testimony on government issues.
- Five Modules were held. Click individually to see the videos on YouTube.
- Module 2 – Intro & Overview
- Module 3 – WA District Maps – Alison McCaffree
- Module 4 – How to Write Testimony
- Module 5 – How to Testify
- Module 6 – Dave’s Redistricting App
April 1, 2021: Carving Paths to Success After High School: What Will It Take to Keep the Promise?
- A forum exploring the vision and the challenges of providing free community college, first to Seattle residents, expanding to King County, and then statewide. Panelists addressed the Seattle Promise, ST3 funding, progress to date, and the Washington College Promise legislation. What are the experiences of those working to bring this promise to fruition?
- Our YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/WyZGLh_xEX4
March 4, 2021: Health Care: USA, Washington State, and the League
- Features a look at the League’s long-held position on Universal Health Care. We reviewed the current state of health care reform, nationally and locally, and heard from a panel of local leaders of groups advocating for Universal Health Care.
- Our YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/a8UdzfWIIrE
February 4, 2021: Understanding Our Taxes - Challenges to Local Government
- Speaker: Dwight Dively, Director, Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget, King County Executive Office
- Dwight Dively has many years of experience in shaping budgets, first in Seattle and now in King County. Focused on issues facing local governments as they try to provide essential services with limited revenue. Who pays and who benefits from local taxes? How does the regressive state tax structure of Washington State impact local revenue? What changes are needed to meet the needs of this era of pandemic and economic recession?
- Our YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/pjh1nyoGQD0
January 7, 2021: Program Planning
- Every year we kick off with discussing what League will be doing in the coming year. The meeting had presentations from:
- Liz Bander, Director, LWVUS Board
- LWVUS Leads our Transformational Journey
- Girmay Zahilay, King County Councilmember, District 2
- Update on King County & What's Coming
- The video has those speakers but does not include the breakout sessions held with 8 different committee chairs.
- Our YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/ZESTmtEjXr8
December 3, 2020: Regional Climate Action through Democratic Sustainability
- In light of the fact that carbon emissions registered flat in King County after the well-intentioned efforts of the last five years, it’s time to take a new approach. What are the root causes of flat carbon emissions and what reforms will produce the climate results that we all desire?
- Moderator: MAK Mitchell, Chair, LWV Environmental Committee
- Speakers:
- Rachel Brombaugh, King County Director for Climate Initiatives
- Jerri Gordon: Sammamish LWV Climate Guide
- Callie Ridolfi: Mercer Island LWV Climate Guide
- Cathy Dormaier: Enumclaw: LWV Climate Guide
- Joan Larcom: Burien LWV Climate Guide
- Lee Keim: Shoreline LWV Climate Guide
- Autumn Salamack, Shoreline Environmental Services Coordinator
- You can view it on the King CountyTV YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxHhXxXeQ_A
November 5, 2020: Improving Policing in King County
- In light of the Black Lives Matter protests over the summer, it is time to understand policing best practices and consider new police reforms that activists are demanding. What are the best practices and reforms that could right these wrongs?
- Join Moderator: Alexes Harris, PhD Professor of Sociology, UW
- and the Panelists:
- Daudi Abe, PhD, Seattle Central College
- Monica Alexander, Police Trainer at the Washington Police Academy
- Tim Burgess, former police officer, former Seattle City Councilmember, former Interim Mayor
- Monisha Harrell, Washington Coalition for Police Accountability and Deputy Monitor for the SPD/US Dept of Justice Consent Decree
- Marcus Harrison Green, South Seattle Emerald Executive Editor
- and Representative Roger Goodman, 45th Legislative District !
- On our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/k9lvm3zyRFA
October 17, 2020: Candidate Forum Congressional District 8
October 14, 2020: Candidate Forum LD 33 and 11
- Cosponsored with King County Library System, Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce, and the Highline Times.
- Virtual Forum held with Q&A for the following candidates:
- LD 33 Representative Pos. 1 Tina L. Orwall and Kerry French
- LD 11 Representative Pos.1 David Hackney and Zack Hudgins
- Video on YouTube
October 13, 2020: Candidate Forum CD 9 and LD 41
- Virtual Forum held with Q&A for the following candidates:
- Congressional District 9 candidates Adam Smith and Doug Basler
- LD 41 Senator candidates Lisa Wellman and Mike Nykreim
- LD 41 Representative Pos. 1 candidate Tana Senn
- LD 41 Representative Pos. 2 candidates My-Linh Thai and Al Rosenthal
- Video on YouTube
October 1, 2020: Ballot Measure Forum for Referendum 90
- Q&A for pro and con speakers regarding the ballot measure on Referendum 90 concerning comprehensive sexual health education. The measure would require school districts to adopt or develop, consistent with state standards, comprehensive age-appropriate sexual health education for all students, and excuse students at a parent's request.
- Click this link to view it on TVW: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2020101029
September 10, 2020: Reimagining Public Safety
- Discussion of Washington State: What became of the ballot measure De-Escalate Washington (I-940),
- and what public policy reforms are currently in the works?
- Speakers: Leslie Cushman Worked on the coalition which the LWV endorsed during the campaign to pass I-940 in 2018. She also works with the “Washington Coalition on Police Accountability, which has been supporting police reform at the state level.
- Teri Rogers Kemp, Lawyer, Member of Governor Inslee's “Task Force on Independent Investigation of Police Use of Force”
- Questions & Answers: Moderated by Heather Kelly, 2nd VP - Action
- Video on YouTube
January 2020 forum and February Centennial event were not video taped. Forums were not held in the spring or summer.
December 5, 2019: Homelessness in Seattle/King County
- At our December Forum, we heard why King County is struggling to end homelessness: Housing affordability, mental health and addiction, the cost of healthcare, zoning and tax laws. We heard from the experts: -Jennifer Alderman, Behavioral Health Sciences Supervisor with Snohomish County - King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles - Colleen Echohawk, Executive Director of Chief Seattle Club -Tess Colby, Senior Advisor on Homelessness for the City of Seattle -Susan Segall, Executive Director of New Beginnings; -Annamaria Gueco, Supportive Housing, Homeless Outreach & Outpatient Services Supervisor with SOUND - Zachary DeWolf, Seattle School Board Director for District 5 - Anitra Freeman with the Board of Directors for Real Change.
- Available for viewing courtesy of King County Television. A Homelessness study was published in April 2020; click here to read.
November 7, 2019: Climate Change
October 3, 2019: Juvenile Justice
- At our October Forum, we heard from government officials and activists on stopping the school to prison pipeline, alternatives to incarceration, and how organizations around the county are advocating for at-risk youth. Panelists included Derrick Wheeler-Smith from King County Zero Youth Detention, Jason Clark from Northwest Credible Messengers, Nick Straley from Columbia Legal Services, and Sean Goode from Choose 180. Our moderator was Kimberly Ambrose from the University of Washington School of Law. She's the director of Tools for Social Change: Race and Justice Clinic and a Senior Law Lecturer with an expertise in Juvenile Law.
- Available for viewing courtesy of King County Television.
September 5, 2019: Latest Election and Voting Laws
- At our September Forum, we heard from Kendall LeVan Hodson, Chief of Staff for King County Elections, will be here to tell you all about them and answer your questions! We’ll talk about everything from the new Vote Centers, same day registration, and prepaid postage, to the Native American Voting Rights Act, to the changes to Washington State’s Presidental Primary.
- Available for viewing courtesy of King County Television.
Events and candidate forums April thru August were not video taped.
March 7, 2019: Latest Election and Voting Laws
February 7, 2019: Exploring Racism in the Women's Suffrage Movement
- With the upcoming anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we held a public forum on February 7th to explore the fact that not all women were able to vote after it was passed and that the white women working on its passage were both actively and passively racist through the process. Our speakers discussed the various laws on the books that prevented many non-white women from voting, as well as the continued voter suppression in the states through 1957 and now the renewed voter suppression, such as in North Dakota this year. LWV Vice President, Christy Wood, moderated a discussion with Seattle City Councilmember Debora Juarez, Jamila Taylor, Attorney and Founding Board Member of BlackPast.org and La Rond Baker, Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Unit of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.
- Resources for further reading on the topic.
- View online courtesy of Seattle Channel, also at http://seattlechannel.org/videos?videoid=x102181.
October 4, 2018: General Election Ballot Measures
- This November police accountability, the environment, grocery tax policy, gun control, and education will be vying for your vote. Join us for a forum with pro and con campaigns from I-940, I-1631, I-1634, and I-1639 at the Collective in South Lake Union. We’ll also hear from education insiders about Seattle’s Families, Education, and Preschool Promise Levy.
- View online courtesy of TVW.
April 5, 2018: Get Smart About Taxes
- Do you know how local taxes will impact your family budget? Dwight Dively, Director of Performance, Strategy, and Budget for King County will break down upcoming trends at the city, county, and state level and what they mean for your bottom line. We’ll focus on property taxes, impacts of declining federal revenue to our region, challenges to our infrastructure and at-risk programs like public health, impacts of privatization, and impacts of our regressive tax system.
- View online courtesy of Seattle Channel.
February 1, 2018: Budgets as Moral Documents
- Our Social Justice Committee assembled a panel of speakers to discuss varying ways of interpreting budgets as moral documents at the city, county, and state levels. Kirsten Harris-Talley, Jackie Vaughn and Sheila Capestany were the speakers and Rev. Harriet Walden was the moderator. Available for viewing courtesy of King County Television.
November 2, 2017: Internet Privacy
- Why does Internet Privacy matter? With the internet so vital to our personal, business, health care and essential aspects of our lives, we are often unaware of what data is collected, how it is retained, and how it is shared. How much do we value privacy? And what personal information should be considered private. Panelists included Jim Loter, Director of Digital Engagement for the City of Seattle, Sue Peters, Seattle School Board Director, Julie Wise, King County Director of Elections, and Ann Nagel, Associate Vice Provost for Privacy at the UW. Available for viewing courtesy of King County Television.
April 6, 2017: How Do We Get to Zero Youth Detention in King County?
- King County’s plans to build a new juvenile justice center with 112 detention cells have drawn opposition from community members. This forum features perspectives from all sides. Panelists include: Terri Stewart (Moderator), Director of the Youth Chaplaincy Coalition, Dominique Davis, co-founder and CEO of Community Passageways, and King County Superior Court Judges Laura Inveen and Wesley Saint Clair. Available for viewing courtesy of King County Television.
March 2, 2017: You Marched - Now Run!
Why more women need to run for office, and why you should, too. Please join the League of Women Voters for a special Women’s History Month forum. Panelists included Claudia Balducci, King County Councilmember and Lisa Herbold, Seattle City Councilmember. Emily Wicks of the National Women's Political Caucus moderated. Available for viewing courtesy of King County Television.
February 2, 2017: Issues and Answers for an Aging Population
- A discussion of critical issues for a growing senior population, including effective financial planning, options for access to health care and long-term care, and end of life planning. Speakers included: Cathy Knight, Director of the WAshingotn Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Ellen Berg, a professor in the Telos Program, and John Friedman, the Area Vice-President of Kindred Health Care. Available for viewing courtesy of King County Television.
May 5, 2016: Cleaning up the Duwamish
- A discussion of the Duwamish River is being restored and how community involvement is changing the future of Seattle’s only river. Speakers included: James Rasmussen, Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/Technical Advisory Group (DRCC/TAG), Paulina Lopez, DRCC/TAG Community Engagement and Outreach,Josh Baldi, WA State Department of Ecology, Elly Hale, US Environmental Protection Agency. Available for viewing via the Seattle Channel.
March 3, 2016: Short Changed - Addressing the Gender Pay Gap
February 4, 2016: Death Knell for Death Penalty?
November 5, 2015: Amending the Constitution
- Watch online. Speakers included Paul Lawrence of the Pacifica Law Group and Alice Woldt of WAmend and Fix Democracy First.
October 1, 2015: Money in Politics
- This forum was not videotaped but the resources presented at the forum along with other materials from the LWVUS national study can be found on this page.
September 10, 2015: Ballot Issues Forum
- Watch online Pro and Con speakers presented arguments on the following ballot measures:
- King County Best Starts For Kids Levy
- Move Seattle Transportation Levy
- Initiative 122 - Honest Elections Seattle
June 29, 2015: Port Commissioner Candidates Forum
- Watch online The Seattle Port Commission holds significant power over the direction of our city's working waterfront. In this non-partisan candidate forum, hear directly from Port of Seattle Commissioner candidates about how they will address pressing environmental and economic issues facing the Port including:
- Their vision for a working waterfront in the face of climate change impacts
- Plans to ensure the Port of Seattle remains competitive with other west coast ports
- Transparent government process
- Duwamish river and superfund cleanup
- Competitive, living wage jobs
- Air pollution and traffic congestion
April 2, 2015: The Columbia River Treaty in an Era of Climate Change
- Watch online Panelists Scott Simms, Secretary to the U.S. Entity, Columbia River Treaty; Paul Lumley, Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission; and Rachael Paschal Osborn, public interest water lawyer, Center for Environmental Law & Policy, discuss the review process, the key interests in the U.S. and Canada and new and emerging issues of climate change, endangered species and the Regional Recommendations. The decisions made in the Columbia River treaty negotiations will impact our region for generations to come.
March 5, 2015: Human Trafficking - GLOBAL AND RIGHT HERE
- Watch the video.
- A discussion on the scope of the problem, what is being done and what still needs to be done. If you think it does not happen in your neighborhood and that it does not happen to our children, you are wrong. Speakers were Leslie Briner, MSW, Commercial Sexual Exploitation Training and Policy Coordinator for YouthCare in Seattle, Valiant Richey, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for King County, and Rose Gundersen, co-founder and Director of Washington Engage which works with community coalitions to deal with human trafficking.
- Co-sponsors: BEST (Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking), Federal Way Coalition Against Trafficking, Soroptimist International, Seattle Metropolitan Club, Seattle Against Slavery, Washington Engage, and Youth Care - The Bridge Program
February 5, 2015: Hospital Mergers - How Will They Affect Your Care?
- Health care service delivery is changing rapidly with hospital mergers and affiliations. When religiously affiliated hospitals merge with secular hospitals, the values of the religious organization can determine what services patients receive. Citizen activism helps to assure that patients are not denied family planning services and end-of-life support when religiously affiliated hospitals are the only options available. Panelists Professor Jamie Shirley(UW School of Nursing), Theresa Connor (Compassion & Choices), and Leah Rutman (American Civil Liberties Union) discuss the topic. Watch the video.
January 6, 2015: Paramount Duty: Why Are Our Schools Underfunded?
- Tom Ahearne, the trial lawyer from the McCleary case, discussed the impact of Washington State failing to meet its "Paramount Duty" to fully fund education. Andrew Nichols, of the WA State Budget and Policy Center, spoke on the challenges of funding basic education and how reforms to the revenue system can make it possible. Watch the video.
November 8, 2014: Elections, Money and the Media post-Citizens United
- An entertaining post-election conversation with Alan Durning of Sightline and Dave Ross of KIRO Radio. Watch it online.
October 2, 2014: Selected Ballot Issues
- Our October 2nd forum covered one of the statewide ballot measures, Initiative 1351 related to class size and school support staff, and the four Seattle measures on preschool funding, Metro bus funding and a new monorail proposal. Pro and Con speakers presented both sides of the issues and answered questions from the audience. If you missed it, you can watch it online.
September 4, 2014: Let's Talk Preschool
April 3, 2014: Minimum Wage - Living Wage
- Video: Minimum Wage - Living Wage
- Also broadcast on Channel 22. Speakers discuss Mayor Murray's proposal to establish a citywide minimum wage as well as the Self Sufficiency Standard, the income required for a family to live independently without public or private assistance. Speakers: Diana Pearce, Senior Lecturer and Director, Center for Women's Welfare, School of Social Work, UW; David Rolf, President of Service Employees International Union 775NW and Co-chair of the Seattle Mayor's Income Inequality Advisory Committee; Howard S. Wright III, founder and CEO of Seattle Hospitality Group and Co-chair of the Seattle Mayor's Income Inequality Advisory Committee. View slideshow on Poverty Lines and the Self Suffiency Standard: How They Inform the Minimum/Living Wage Debate. Download the Budget Worksheet Exercise for the Self Sufficiency Standard.
- Four panelists discuss the upcoming ballot measure and our transportation needs for the region's future.
- Moderator: Marilyn Strickland, Mayor of Tacoma. Panelists: Rod Dembowski, King County Council Chair of Transportation; Mia Gregerson, SeaTac Mayor and State Representative; Rebecca Saldaña, Puget Sound Sage; Katie Wilson, Transit Riders Union. Co-Sponsored with Town Hall Seattle, Transportation Choices Coalition, Puget Sound Sage, Transit Riders Union, Forterra, Futurewise, and Move King County Now.
- Three experts on food safety address a broad spectrum of issues including foodborne illness outbreaks, industrial farming and food processing, government regulation, food labeling, and nanotechnology.
- Speakers: Trudy Bialic (Director of Public Affairs, PCC Natural Markets), Chris Skilton (Health & Environmental Investigator, King Co. Dept. of Public Health) and Siri Erickson Brown (co-owner of Local Roots farm
- Check out Chris doing restaurant inspections in this short video clip.
- Pete Holmes, Seattle City Attorney, Amnon Shoenfeld, Director of King County Mental Health, Chemical Abuse & Dependency Services Division, and Karen Milman, MD, MPH, Director of King County Public Health Office of Prevention address the current legal environment concerning gun access, suicide, mental health issues and domestic violence, and what a public health approach involves.
- View slides from Dr. Milman's presentation.
November 9, 2013 Fall Fundraiser - The Other Side of Carbon Emissions: Acidification and the Salish Sea
- Speaker: Dr. Terrie Klinger, Barer Professor of Sustainability Science, UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs and Co-Director of the UW Center on Ocean Acidification
- What are the effects of ocean acidification? What action can we take in response? How we can reduce harmful effects on Washington’s shellfish and other marine resources and adapt to the impacts of acidified waters?
- Listen to the talk.
- Fact Sheet on Ocean Acidification
Speakers making pro and con presentations for:
- Initiative 517 - re: initiative and referendum procedures
- Initiative 522 - re: labeling of GMO foods
We also had speakers making presentations on:
- King County Charter Amendment - re: the department of public defense
- King County Prop 1 - re: EMS (Medic One) levy
Incumbent Mayor Mike McGinn and challenger Senator Ed Murray share their visions of how to improve quality of life for all Seattlites, with an emphasis on arts and culture. Topics: historic preservation, public art, arts education, urban design and the design of the Seattle Waterfront. Moderator: Jim Kelly, Executive Director of 4Culture.
September 5, 2013 - How to Be an Informed Voter/Seattle Ballot Measures
- Speakers: Alice Woldt of Washington Public Campaigns and Nick Licata, Seattle City Councilmember
Nov. 10, 2102 Fundraiser: Digging Out from 2008 – WHAT’S NEXT?
Sept. 6, 2012 - Drug Policy Reform: Marijuana Legalization First?
- The effectiveness of the current drug policy, which places its emphasis on deterring drug use through punishment, has been widely questioned as a costly and ineffective approach. Proponents of drug policy reform have called for a public health approach to drug abuse, stressing a shift of resources to research, education, prevention, treatment and drug courts, as an alternative to the continued use of criminal sanctions. Former U.S. Attorney John McKay, Kim Marie Thorburn, M.D, and Commander Pat Slack of the Snohomish County Regional Drug and Gang Task Force discuss the topic, with Seattle Times reporter Jonathan Martin as moderator. Co-sponsored by the King County Bar Association. No longer available on the TVW site.
April 5, 2012 - Making Plans for the Seattle Central Waterfront
- What is the seawall and why is it important? How will the space be used once the viaduct comes down? What other projects are in the works?
- Bob Donegan, CEO Ivar's Acres of Clams, Central Waterfront Committee
- Nathan Torgelson, Policy and Development Manager, Seattle Parks & Recreation
- Jennifer Wieland, Project Manager, Elliott Bay Seawall
- Gael Tarleton, President, Seattle Port Commission
Sept. 8, 2011 - 2010 Census Update: Our Changing Population
May 5, 2011: Smart Transportation Choices and How to Fund Them
- Click here for video at King County TV, scroll down to find by date.
April 7, 2011: Budget Shortfalls
- Click here for video at King County TV, scroll down to find by date.
Feb. 3, 2011: Reclaimed Water
- Click here for video at King County TV, scroll down to find by date.
Jan. 6, 2011: Program Planning
- Great information in this document provided by one of our speakers, Dr. Sarah Weinberg, on the federal healthcare legislation and what it could mean to us: Status of Health Care.
April 1, 2010: Making Democracy Work
- Click here for video at King County TV, scroll down to find by date.