Political Buzz » Marty Campbell

Tacoma: City Council formally chooses downtown-to-Hilltop route for extending Tacoma Link

Lewis Kamb — Wed, 01 May 2013 04:51:51 +0000

In the end, Tacoma’s City Council formally selected the same downtown-to-Hilltop route for its preferred choice to extend the city’s Link light rail system that it tentatively picked last week.

But the council’s action Tuesday hardly resembled an exercise in rubber-stamping.

It came only after heart-felt testimony offered by about 20 Tacoma residents and a failed amendment at compromise floated by East Side Councilman Marty Campbell.

“This is the one resolution that unites us, it doesn’t divide us,” Campbell said in proposing the measure. “It doesn’t pit communities against each other.”

The amendment, which …

UPDATED Tacoma Link: As City Council prepares to vote on Link extension route, stakeholders’ group recommends hybrid route; Campbell set to float alternative proposal

Lewis Kamb — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 23:45:07 +0000

UPDATE 7:45 p.m.

The City Council chose a downtown-to-Hilltop route as its preferred choice for extending Tacoma Link.

The council’s choice came after a failed amendment by Councilman Marty Campbell that sought support for a hybrid route that would have included the Hilltop extension plus an additional stub extension along Portland Avenue.

After the amendment failed, 5 to 4, the council voted 8 to 1 in favor of the so-called E1 route — a 2.3 mile corridor connecting downtown to MLK via Stadium Way. The council’s recommendation will be sent to the Sound Transit board, which is expected to make …

Tacoma: Van Dyk challenges Lonergan for 5th District city council seat

Lewis Kamb — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:31:30 +0000

A second candidate has emerged to challenge an incumbent in this year’s Tacoma City Council races.

Justin Van Dyk officially filed his candidate’s registration with the state on April 5, declaring his intent to run for the council’s District 5 seat representing south Tacoma now held by Joe Lonergan.

Shortly after Van Dyk registered, Lonergan himself filed his own candidacy paperwork and today officially announced in a press release that he’s seeking re-election.

In a phone interview today, Van Dyk, 25, said he is …

Tacoma: Campbell officially announces bid for second term

Lewis Kamb — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:28:39 +0000

Tacoma City Councilman Marty Campbell officially announced today he’ll seek a second-term for the council’s District 4 seat representing the East Side and parts of the South End.

Campbell, 42, a community activist and former owner of Stadium Video and Buzzards, won election to Council in 2009 by easily downing Roxanne Murphy, a former city employee.

Campbell filed his candidate’s registration for his re-election bid last month with the state’s Public Disclosure Commission, records show. So far, he has reported no campaign contributions and no one has filed to challenge him.

Here’s Campbell’s press announcement:

For

…

Tacoma: Campbell, Boe to head council’s economic development committee

Lewis Kamb — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:48:50 +0000

In other Tacoma news today …

The city’s press office just churned out this news release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jan. 28, 2013

MEDIA CONTACTS
Gwen Schuler, Media and Communications, gschuler@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5160
Maria Lee, Media and Communications, maria.lee@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2054

Campbell and Boe appointed to head Economic Development Committee

Deputy Mayor Marty Campbell and Council Member David Boe have recently been appointed to serve as chairman and vice-chairman of the city’s Economic Development Committee, respectively. Combined, they have 40 years of experience as business owners.

“As members of this

…

Tacoma City Council cracks down on billboards, ditching legal settlement with Clear Channel

Jordan Schrader — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:53:06 +0000

Tacoma’s City Council called today for quick removal of at least 190 billboards, and possibly dozens more, reigniting a legal fight with sign owner Clear Channel Outdoor.

The council voted 7-1, with Joe Lonergan opposed and Spiro Manthou absent, to tighten zoning restrictions for billboards, set a new deadline for removal of those that don’t comply, and ban the modern versions that switch messages electronically.

By keeping digital billboards out of Tacoma, the council backs out of a legal settlement with Clear Channel that it had approved unanimously last year.

The agreement called for allowing Clear Channel to put up …

City to charge 50 cents on 2012 Tacoma Rainiers tickets

Jordan Schrader — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:22:38 +0000

A long-planned 50 cent fee on tickets to Tacoma Rainiers games will start hitting fans in the 2012 season, a year after the renovated Cheney Stadium opened for baseball.

After City Council members questioned why it wasn’t in effect for the 2011 season, city officials notified the Rainiers Saturday it would charge the so-called facility fee starting in 2012 for baseball games — and starting Monday for other ticketed events.

Proceeds will go first to helping pay off the $30 million the city borrowed to renovate the stadium. Once debt payments are covered each year, leftover proceeds will be returned …

UPDATED Tacoma: City ethics board to review complaints against Strickland, Campbell

Lewis Kamb — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 01:34:10 +0000

Tacoma’s citizen Board of Ethics will convene later this month to review separate complaints filed against Mayor Marilyn Strickland and Councilman Marty Campbell, the city clerk’s office confirmed today.

The complaints — both filed by local gadfly John Hathaway — essentially contend that Strickland and Campbell separately violated city rules for varying reasons.

The complaint against Campbell — largely based on an email discussion between the councilman and Ahndrea Blue, the operator of a controversial East Side food bank — requests an ethics investigation of Campbell’s actions in setting up a recent public meeting about the food bank. …