Words of Wisdom

Public Statement: Cindy Ryu for Shoreline City Council Position #5 Nov. 10, 2005

I would like to thank everyone that cared deeply about Shoreline, many of whom worked day in and day out for the last 6 months or 2 years or 4 years or even longer to make sure we have good government in Shoreline. We succeeded because everyone pulled together. We were all busy with our lives, working, taking care of our families and homes, dealing with health issues, raising our children, and paying our taxes.

We all had full plates but we also paid attention to what was happening in Shoreline. We decided we had to do something because we care about Shoreline and one another. We have proven that whether we live on the west side or the east side of Shoreline, whether we are Democrats, Republicans, Progressives, or Independents, we CAN work together, we CAN help one another, and we CAN learn from one another.

I was able to doorbell over 4,100 households this year because of the support provided by so many caring people for many months. Many donated their hard-earned money, put up signs, doorbelled, called voters, stuffed envelopes, entered data day in and day out, researched, made copies, and coordinated the volunteers, set up the website, and filed my PDC reports in a timely manner. Others helped with the endorsement processes, rallied support by waving signs, assembled, put up, and take down more than 800 signs.

This was truly a grass-roots campaign. This is a great beginning with a lot of work still to be done, to help our city grow up over the next 10 years the way the people want it to and become an effective, full-service government. I will look at the big picture and I will pay attention to the details. I really appreciate your support and your participation. The best part about this campaign was the people. The people of Shoreline made it doable and enjoyable.

Thanks for the opportunity to offer "words of wisdom". I was proud to receive the Progressive Party endorsement in the Primary, and am watching the vote count for Shoreline with great interest. Congratulations to Cindy and Janet...who is ever so close. Shoreline could end up with the most progressive city council in the state. Congratulations also to Mary Bass...who won re-election to the Seattle School Board. We need her desperately.

As you all may know, a Political Action Committee called "Strong Seattle Schools" was formed by ex-School Board member (and current State Board of Education candidate) Barbara Schaad-Lamphere and former School Board member Don Nielson. The paperwork was filed on the day of the primary. They were desperate to regain control of the school board after the turnover two years ago. That group raised over $50,000 in short order, to fund a mailing campaign for a slate of candidates they endorsed. One of those candidates won (he was opposed only by a 19 year old UW student who did not campaign), but the other two were defeated by Mary Bass and Cheryl Chow.

School Board directors in Western Washington will be electing State Board representatives this month. We do not want to see Schaad-Lamphere in that position, after her abysmal tenure on the Seattle School Board. She was a key rubber-stamper for the Nielson agenda towards privatization of our schools. I hope some of you will write to them to urge them to vote for Schaad's opponent. The general election is over...but the fight goes on! Warm regards,

Theresa Cardamone

Christal Wood, Seattle Mayor candidate

• "Pace yourself---there's rather rude end of the tunnel on election day, win or lose."
• "Don't try to run a man's race if your a woman."
• "Do the best you can with every penny, but don't listen to anyone who says what you have is not good enough."
• "Don't listen to a damn thing the 'insider's' say--in fact, stay as far away from them as you can get. They only perpetuate the status quo."
• "Innovate--take this time to reinvent yourself with your ideals in tact."
• "Bullet Points, Schmullet points...connect with your audience."
• "If you do the above, you won, whether you win or not."