THOMAS TOBIN for Seattle City Council pos. #4
I was born and raised on Capitol Hill, and still live there with my wife and two children. I am a graduate of O'Dea High School and North Seattle Community College. As a United States Marine Corp Veteran and a business owner, I know the meaning of Leadership, Teamwork, and Enthusiasm. Working with the public for over 30 years, I have a strong sense of Community, Justice, and Service.
I believe that city government should be by and for the people, communities and neighborhoods. Businesses flourish when there is cooperation between government and its people. I believe city government should have strict accountability in all of its departments and it should be easily accessible. I believe transportation has made positive steps, but more needs to be done. I believe in cleaner streets, sidewalks, and parks. I also believe the more government we have, the less it actually services the people.
When I take position on the city council, my goal is to provide solutions and answers to the following questions that affect every taxpaying citizen:
- Why does city government keep spending time, money, and resources to probe into its own city departments?
- Why is there such a problem with city streets, sidewalks, and parks?
- Why doesn't the city government publish a weekly summary of what is voted on or going to be voted on without a taxpayer having to dig for it (i.e. like the Seattle Times does for our U.S. Lawmakers)?
- Why does city government have so much internal strife?
By answering these and other pressing questions, we will keep Seattle the livable place we have come to expect for our children and ourselves.
My concerns about government-citizen relations, accountability, accessibility, cleanliness and transportation, come from the heart. With my energies focused on political and personal accountability and making certain public and elected officials are on the same page, I am willing to ask these difficult questions and get real, straight forward answers for all of us.
I have been here all of my life and plan to be here for the duration. I share your view that Seattle is and will continue to be the greatest place to live if we provide the groundwork today. I LOVE SEATTLE!