Jun. 2, 2008 at 12:45am

Meet Calvin Goings Today: Mandolin Cafe at 5:30 pm

Meet Pierce County Executive Candidate

Calvin Goings Tonight

Calvin Goings is holding a campaign event tonight at Mandolin Cafe at 5:30 p.m..  Goings is currently on the Pierce County Council and is running for Pierce County Executive.  He is a democrat and has the support of well known urbanists Ryan Mello and Andrew Austin and many others.

Here's the flyer sent out:

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Photo on Calvin Goings web site.

Please join members of the arts community, downtown business leaders, and neighborhood boosters at a fund raiser for our next

Pierce County Executive
Calvin Goings

Monday, June 2, 2008
5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the
Mandolin Café
3923 South 12th Street
Tacoma, WA

Please RSVP - rsvp@calvingoings.org
Suggested Donation $25.00

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Commentary:

Why Tacomans Should Care About the County Executive Race

I have decided to get a bit involved in the Pierce County Executive Race as there appears to many a number of ways the county effects the city.

First, the City of Tacoma is actually located in Pierce County.  That's right, we are all Pierce County residents.

Second, the Department of Corrections and the State of Washington generally consider Pierce County as a unit when deciding the number of felons to place in the county.  Tacoma simply cannot break the 30 year cycle of having the city utilized as a felon "dumping ground" without an effective and diligent County Council and County Executive who will monitor the issue and take action when appropriate.  See related post on felon placement.

Third, Pierce County is currently releasing everyone who spends time in jail or is immediately released into downtown Tacoma even if they were arrested in Orting. This was an issue raised on the Jail Forum on March 20, 2008.  The next executive should look at releasing arrestees near where they were arrested, if appropriate, for the good of Tacoma and the arrestees themselves.

Forth, Tacoma needs Pierce County to have have reasonable growth strategies and slow or stop the habit of taxpayer subsidization of suburban sprawl which has cost Pierce County untold millions, encouraged the disinvestment in Tacoma and caused unneeded pollution and traffic congestion.

Once politicians get into office, it can be difficult to reach them.  Here's a chance to ask some difficult questions to Goings and hear what he has to say.

There's alot of people in this race as it is an open seat.

Hope to see you there.

(Full disclosure: I have endorsed Goings)