Mayor of Bonney Lake – Michael McCullough

Municipal/Other Questionnaire

Candidate Information

  • Candidate Name: Michael McCullough
  • Position Sought: Mayor of Bonney Lake (Non-incumbent)
  • Home Legislative District: 31st
  • Democrat: Yes

Campaign Information

Part I – Candidate Background

1. Please briefly describe your qualifications, education, employment, community and civic activity, union affiliation, prior political activity, and other relevant experience.

I am a trial attorney having been a prosecutor in Pierce County and currently a Public Defender in King County since 2002. I have been a member of 2 Unions–UFCW and SEIU currently. University of Texas. University of Houston and South Texas College of Law. Local civic activity has been limited to FEAT of Wa, due to my son having Autism. I am now able to become active.

2. What prompted you to run for this office? What are your campaign’s most important themes, issues, or priorities (three to five)?

Now that my son does not require the time he needed, I can devote time to my passion. I want to carve an identity for Bonney Lake. An identity that caters to its residents. Less development and more attention to proper community issues. My theme is Balance. Balance Bonney Lake’s traffic issues, utility issues–specifically why our water and sewage is higher than our neighbors. Developing proper Parks and perhaps a focal community gathering center that is distinctly ours.

3. What steps are you taking to run a successful campaign?

I have started networking with residents that have been involved with the politics, the arts, the parks, and have been recording their concerns. I have created a social media page (currently one on FB and developing my website) to properly address these issues. I am in the midst of obtaining banners right now and getting the message out comparable to my funding. Theme on my signs will be “Let’s Balance Bonney Lake”. I have learned that there are many residents that want change.

Part II – Local Issues

1. Would you support the establishment of a safe injection site in your district?

Yes

2. Would you support the administration and police force in your jurisdiction adopting a sanctuary policy, forbidding the sharing of local resources and labor with ICE?

Yes

I am already experienced in this area being a public defender. The jail at the RJC in King Co. used to coordinate with ICE to delay the release of non-citizens until ICE showed up. My agency helped put a stop to that practice.

3. Do you support raising revenue at the city level to expand transit service?

Yes

Ours has shrunk. Too many underprivileged rely upon municipal transit to satisfy their fundamental needs. This includes necessary mental health and substance abuse treatment. Many people do not realize the importance of providing this essential service.

4. Should transportation policy discourage the use of private automobiles and encourage the use of public-transit?

Yes

Our Park and Ride is great. However, we could use more access in the Eastown and zPrairie Ridge areas. Many residents commute and providing greater access SoundTransit and METRO hubs is fundamental.

5. Do you support building a municipally owned and operated broadband system in your city or jurisdiction?

Yes

This is simply adjusting to the times.

6. Do you support requiring police officers in your jurisdiction to wear body cameras?

Yes

Again, this is an area in which I have roughly 20 years experience. As with any person who has been entrusted to monitor and enforce public safety, a higher standard of conduct is expected. This conduct should be monitored. I support our police whole-heartedly, but HOW we police is one of the most fundamental rights we enjoy living in this country. A policeman’s behavior is addressed in our Bill of Rights and need to be recorded now that we have the affordable technology to do so. Body cameras also help reduce costs within the criminal justice system as well.

7. Do you support repealing Tim Eyman’s I-747, which artificially limits property tax increases to 1% per year, regardless of population growth, inflation, and need?

No

Government needs to be able to govern.

8. Should government assist individuals, and families who are without sufficient food, shelter, or basic necessities through no fault of their own?

Yes

Absolutely. Our underprivileged are the most underrepresented and some of the most misunderstood.

9. Should the wages paid to workers in Washington State be raised incrementally towards the goal of living wages?

Yes

Paying people a living wage decreases costs in other areas. Criminal justice comes to mind.

10. Will you seek opportunities to mitigate the human activities that are contributing to disastrous climate change?

Yes

Part III – Free Response

1. Why are you requesting Democratic endorsement? What aspects of the Democratic platform most resonate with you?

Our common sense social need platform resonate the most.

2. What important local issues have you worked on (or taken an interest in) that you feel aren’t getting enough attention from elected leaders and the media?

They are qualified above

3. Please list up to three specific, concrete actions you would support to ease the homelessness crisis.

The mini homes being built to help the homeless.
Mental Health services to address issues that lead to homelessness.
Substance Abuse services for the same.

4. What are the barriers to economic prosperity faced by residents in your jurisdiction, and how do you plan to address them?

The transit issues addressed above are barriers.

5. What are the transportation/transit challenges which face this jurisdiction and how would you address them? What role does rail play in your proposed solutions?

See above. However, I would have to know more about this issue vbefore I can elaborate

6. What are your jurisdiction’s environmental issues, which ones are urgent and what will you do to address them?

Water, sewage and Park issues

7. Does your district have a taxing authority or propose levies and what changes, if any, would you seek?

Time is imminent so I am submitting.

By typing my name below, I declare under penalty of perjury the foregoing is true and correct.

Printed Name: Michael McCullough

Date: 05/26/2021

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