Willis endorses Nickels, Nicastro on the fence

On the Seattle City Council, two former ASUW presidents are deliberating where their vote will fall in the Seattle mayoral elections.

On the one hand, Heidi Wills has already made a formal endorsement. On the other, Judy Nicastro says she won't make a decision until her voting booth curtain is drawn next Tuesday.

When Wills took office as ASUW president during 1990-91, transportation was one of her chief concerns; during that time, she was one of the main advocates for the U-PASS program. A decade later, as a Seattle city councilor, improving the issue is still on her mind.

She believes that transportation is far and away the most important issue at stake in the upcoming mayoral elections. In her view, it is the most important issue facing the UW community and the city as a whole. Because of that priority, she is endorsing sound transit magnate Greg Nickels in the race.

"We need a leader who has experience working specifically for transpiration. Greg certainly does," she said.

While she does not necessarily believe Nickels' opponent, Mark Sidran, is unqualified for the job, she thinks Nickels has the experience in a variety of areas, which makes him a lock for mayor.

"He has worked on a whole variety of topics beyond transportation, such as growth management, environmental protection, advocating neighborhoods and he was chair for the Board of Health," she said.

Wills contends the Seattle-area commuter needs to have a variety of options. Just expanding the monorail will not be sufficient to serve the city's needs. She and Nickels would like to build the light-rail system, improve bus service, create more bicycle lanes and expand the monorail.

"I would like to see a city where a person does not need to own a car in order to get around," she said.

In the same office as Wills, another former ASUW president-turned-city-councilor has yet to make a decision on a new mayor. Judy Nicastro, ASUW president during 1991-92, is skeptical of both mayoral candidates. While she agrees with Mark Sidran's straightforward leadership style, she has qualms with some of his policies. She agrees with many of Greg Nickels' policies, but has doubts about his ability to execute.

"I like Sidran's style, his courage to take a stand even if it is unpopular. I also like his stand on Sound Transit, that it cannot move forward as it exists now; but some of his policies, like the impoundment law, are unfair to the working poor," she said.

That law has been a focal point of criticism against Sidran during the mayoral race. Under it, those caught driving with a suspended license will have their cars impounded. This means expensive impound fees for those who want their cars back. Critics of the law assert that it unfairly targets drivers who cannot afford to pay tickets; consequently their licenses get suspended.

Nicastro is concerned about Nickels because he adheres to the "Seattle way" of executing politics. The "Seattle way" -- as Nicastro understands it -- is getting myriad opinions before taking action, to make sure all available input is included in the decisionmaking process.

Nicastro's balance of negative and positive impressions of both candidates has left a dead heat in the race for her vote.

"I'll put it this way, I won't be running to the polls with enthusiasm, I haven't decided who I am voting for and I won't decide until I am inside the voting booth," she said.