Mountlake Terrace City Council Pos. 7 candidate Seaun Richards had a 100 vote lead over incumbent John Zambrano in the primary election Tuesday night. Richards received 750 votes, or 43 percent to Zambrano’s 650, or 37% percent in votes tallied on Tuesday. Kim Michels received 344 votes or 19% of the vote.
The top two candidates will move on to the general election in November.
To whichever canidate wins, please do your best to make it a priority to rebuild the downtown corridor and the City Hall.
Yes! I desperatly needs help. I would love to see improvement that would draw in more businesses.
It came to my attention that Seann Richards has put the MLT Police endorsement signs on his signs. I am here to inform everyone that what he is doing is very misleading and dishonest, especially as a candidate. I am the former Chairwoman of the Community Policing Advisory Board and non of the City employees are allowed to endorse any candidates. We do not need that kind of leadership in this city. I can promise that I won’t ever stoop to this level as a candidate currantly, and as a council member.
Just to clear the air, and this topic is already very old and tiresome, the above statement is misleading and borderline slanderous, if not flat out slander.
Seaun has NOT placed an MLT Police endorsement on his campaign signs as, like you say, the MLT Police Department is not allowed to endorse a political candidate. The sign states ‘Endorsed by your Police”, because, as has been stated repeatedly in various forums, he has been endorsed by a Police union, the WAFOP, more specifically, a local branch of the WA State fraternal organization of police. Since members are all police officers, most likely some of them MLT officers as well as WSP, it’s a true and valid statement and legitimate and HONEST endorsement. As Caulfield stated in a letter in response to these petty allegations: “…city employees are prohibited from engaging in political activities during working hours or on city property.” This was a very carefully worded statement as employees ARE allowed to do it on their OWN time if NOT on city property, but the department itself, and the employees while acting on behalf of the city, is not.
I’m amazed that a few people are beating this topic into the ground and continue to stoop to very low levels of vitriolic statements in a campaign to slander Seaun, or ANY candidate for that matter. I think those people should spend more time identifying why their choice of candidate is better than another and pointing those out rather than creating controversial petty discussions out of nothing.
Seaun has a passion for the community that I admire. I realize he isn’t a perfect person like many think he should be, but that’s why I like him. Besides, if someone looks hard enough, you can find ‘dirt’ on anyone. Seaun is hard working, cares for the community deeply, has had his ups and downs in life and is very easy to talk to. That’s what makes him who he is and the qualities I think will make him passionate on the council and an asset to our community.
Just for your information I was told that it said the MLT Police, and I haven’t had a chance to see for myself yet. So thank you for clearing the air. But people may not look at it like that when they see it say “Endorsed by your police”. Most people may not be as aware as you are and others in this area. You have your right to your opinion and I respect that. I know that I am running a positive campaign and just want to be clear and honest with the voters. Thank you for your involvement in the community it is much appreciated.
You’re welcome, and thank you. But I have to ask why you posted that pretty flaming statement without verifying the information you got first? You based your whole opinion and statement on hearsay? That is the problem with what’s been going on around the social media for MLT: Too many opinions and judgements on rumor and heresay. Just sayin’….
Well to answer your question I did react without thinking about checking first, you are right and I shouldn’t of done that. I apologize if this created a bad first impression of how I really am as both a candidate and a personal citizen. I can assure you and all the other voters that have read this that I am not a bad person that just reacts to everything in that manner. Lets just let this go and move on from this whose situation. Also thank you for correcting Mililani. M on my proper gender, I appreciate you doing that.
Fair enough! 🙂
I’m convinced that Mr. Richards has done nothing wrong, and am moving on to more important and valid conversations about this particular council position, as well as others on the ballot for November.
Personally, and I think I speak for at least a FEW others, I’m done giving this particular topic its most UNDUE attention, as well as those who perpetrated the attention.
Hello Mark,
No matter how much you convince YOURSELF that nothing has been done wrong by Richards, deception is deception and it is WRONG.
This sign issue is a valid topic !
SORRY BUT ITS NOT GOING AWAY !!!
Hello Mark,
Today this particular topic got its DUE attention !!!
And as for the statement you made to me that our Councilman John Zambrano has used the same deceptive signs in past elections, well that is absolutely FALSE !!!
Now about your fondness of the word “libel”,
I believe that if you continue to make false statements (you will learn the full meaning of the word) then you will no longer have a tender affection for the word “libel”.
Hello Mark,
I see you are now trying to distance yourself (by removing your name from previous posts) from this particular topic. Topic being Richards using deceptive campaign signs, now I am going to quote an article published in the Hearld on October 5th 2011 regarding this particular topic. In this article Richards seems to be perfectly acceptable of rumors with a “Racial Profiling” slant, and we all know “Racial Profiling” is NOT an acceptable procedure.
Now I have seen the fliers that are called an attack in said article, they are not an attack but merely the truth stated to bring about voter awareness. Also I believe the fliers are a “Defensive” move brought on by the attack from Richards deceptive campaign signs.
This election should not be about who puts the most signs out or who they are suppposedly endorsed by,
it should be about who has the most experience and qualifications for the job !
If you believe experience and qualifications are important, put aside the distractions and vote for our Councilman John Zambrano !!!
Hello Canidate Obrien,
We have been on vaction so just now getting in on this topic,
the signs are deception to the maximum !!!
You have no reason to apologize to old “Hoppy Hop”,
and the sign issue is not going away as he wants it to.
I’m just curious where you all were 4 years ago when other candidates (Zambrano included) were endorsed by police ORGANIZATIONS and posted such on their political signs… oh yes, it’s been done before and as we know, MLTPD doesn’t endorse candidates.
Please leave me out of your continued delusional discussions as you people are clearly WHACK. You are only serving to further discredit the candidate you support by staying on this path. A legitimate and founded discussion is so much more powerful than continued slander and mud-slinging. I only post here now because you continue to bring ME up because, in your lack of taste and real positives toward the community you claim to defend, you choose to attack, repeatedly, not only a candidate, but a community member with no foundation, no merit and nothing (apparently) positive to say about the candidate you are (supposedly) trying to support.
For the few who are reading this, and I get word on who is and feedback offline, you are coming off as arrogant, ignorant, mis-informed and vitriolic.
PLEASE… really… when you want to discuss something real and tangible… as in, how we can better the our tight community, please let me know. Until then… I’m waiting for an intelligent and concerned response. Based on your previous statements, I’m sure I’ll be waiting WELL beyond November….
Hello Mark,
Thank you for your scholarly response, but we are not writing a book here.
Everyone with common sense will see the deception for what it is, DECEPTION !!!
You’re welcome, and thank you. But I have to ask why you posted that pretty flaming statement without verifying the information you got first? You based your whole opinion and statement on hearsay? That is the problem with what’s been going on around the social media for MLT: Too many opinions and judgements on rumor and heresay. Just sayin’….
Can you post a link to the letter that you refer to from Caulfield addressing the petty allegations?
https://www.facebook.com/MLTnews/posts/10150266829218751
I see Dustin already posted the link, but I wanted to clarify that I probably phrased the statement a little off… While Mr. Caulfield addressed the question posed by Ms. Loiseau, he didn’t DIRECTLY address the allegations that Ms. Loisseau was making. Ms. Loiseau didn’t actually share her letter or question(s) on any blog that I saw, but based on the response by Mr. Caulfield, it would be safe to assume that the question was something to the affect of “Does the MLT Police Department endorse political candidates?”
Mark Hopkins and Residents of Mountlake Terrace, I did post a copy of the question addressed to the City Manager along with a picture on MLTnews fb. March 18th at 9:38 pm. Mr. Caulfield gave me permission to post his response.
I don’t know the legalities of the issue. Doesn’t really matter.
However, I just looked at Richards’ new web site. On the front page there is a photograph of his campaign poster, with the added ‘Endorsed by your police’ banner, and it has been attached to a City sign that says “Welcome to Mountlake Terrace”.
Richards is doing his best to imply a direct endorsement by City of MLT police. It’s a slimy thing to do. It’s a slimy person who would continue to perpetuate this after being called on it repeatedly, and in no uncertain terms.
We don’t need representation by people who do their best to appear to be something they are not.
Mark, you are mistaken, They are not a union either but a club of police officers set up to help other officers in crisis and thier families. Just like any other club with a purpose. If you go to their website though the one he is claiming to be sponsored by it is still and has been under construction with no way to get ahold of anyone.
Mark, you are mistaken, they are a club of police officer’s retired or other wise that choose to belong and help those officers in times of crisis and their families. If you go to the one Seaun is claiming to be endorsed by you will find a site that is and has been under construction for some time now. There is no way to get ahold of anyone from that fop. To Clarify it is not a Union! At least not this one!
un·ion? ?[yoon-yuhn]
noun 1. the act of uniting two or more things.
2. the state of being united.
3. something formed by uniting two or more things;
combination.Club, organization
… you’re splitting hairs, now let it rest.
Thanks Mark for Clarifying what I said above!
Mr Obrein: If you are going to run for a position in government, you may want to have facts before attacking someone for your own gain. You slam Mr Richards in one sentence and then state you will not ‘stoop to this level as a candidate… .” You subsequently admitted to not seeing the signs but proceed with your libel statements. You sir, will never have my vote. Especially based on your current rhetoric.
Mililani… while I totally agree with you, I have to correct you on ONE point: it’s Ms.(or Mrs. or Miss) O’Brian. Christina O’Brien, not Mr. O’Brien. Just so you know. 🙂
Mr Obrein: If you are going to run for a position in government, you may want to have facts before attacking someone for your own gain. You slam Mr Richards in one sentence and then state you will not ‘stoop to this level as a candidate… .” You subsequently admitted to not seeing the signs yet proceeded with your libel statements anyway. You sir, will never have my vote. Especially based on your current rhetoric.
As I told Mark Hoppy Hopkins I made a mistake with my statement and I apologize about any misunderstanding this may have caused. I do not make a habit of acting in this manner. But please check my name before assuming I’m a man. Thanks!
You’re mistake is libel. Pure and simple. You are ignorant and hysterical. I will NEVER vote for you Madam.
Hello everyone, I hope all you are enjoying our beautiful summer so far. I am now officially on Facebook, so all you have to do is look up ‘Christina O’Brien for Council’. Please feel free to ask me any questions and I will definitely reply back.
I could not help but notice a post that stated that John Zambrano called the landlord across the street from him and told the landlord that his renter had Seauns sign on her fence and he wanted it removed. Is this accurate because if it is it seems like it would be in violation of our right to free speach.
Hello Leaha,
I heard about that but I haven’t had a chance to look into it. When did this happen do you know? Also you can go to my Facebook page, its called Christina O’Brien for Council.
Hello Canidate Obrien,
I have looked into this sign issue a bit, and what I came up with was that the landlord said NO SIGNS on the fence. It is their right as property owner !!!
You didn’t look very carefully:
RCW 64.38.034
Political yard signs — Governing documents.
(1) The governing documents may not prohibit the outdoor display
of political yard signs by an owner or resident on the owner’s or
resident’s property before any primary or general election. The
governing documents may include reasonable rules and regulations
regarding the placement and manner of display of political yard signs.
Hi Leaha,
Please tell me where I can see the post you are talking about.
Thanks !