Sandy Washington has had what I think most would call an inauspicious start to this campaign. She has put few signs in very few yards, I have yet to see a mailer with her face on it and, perhaps most damningly, Washington was the only candidate who failed to submit a response to the Post-Dispatch. I was preparing to writer her off as someone who had effectively pulled out of the race but then, this past Monday, I got a ping in my inbox and I was pleasantly surprised to find accompanying it what I found to be some pretty solid responses. And then I checked her website. None of it was perfect, but there was a lot to like. And if there’s ever a time to give someone the benefit of the doubt or ever an excuse for not having all your shit completely and totally together, the spring of 2020 is it. It is, after all, not how you start,but how you finish. But enough from me, I’ll let you judge that finish for yourself:
1.How should Kirkwood’s zoning code change or, alternatively, not change?
I support zoning code changes that promote reasonable, mixed use developments that maintain our community character. Residential building that doesn’t encroach on neighbors, that enhances and maintains the charm of our residential areas, where water run off does not impact neighbors, takes into consideration saving mature, healthy trees, and supports renovations of properties. We must be very thoughtful of our commercial and residential property development to maintain our unique community.
2. What does walkability mean to you and what concrete ideas do you have for its implementation in Kirkwood?
Kirkwood’s 2018 Citizens Survey showed that citizens want safe, walkable streets and parks. This is one of our traits that sets up apart from other communities and attracts people to live in Kirkwood. The street improvements in downtown Kirkwood with the walk ways, curbing, signage, and striping promotes safe, walkability in our business district. This project should set the example for other areas in Kirkwood to enhance safe, walking throughout our community. I would like to extend Grants Trail into Kirkwood, expand the road striping for bike lanes, curbing, directional signage and crosswalks.
3. Should Kirkwood count affordability for prospective residents as a priority?
Yes. I fully support an affordable, diverse community. I will listen to citizens, builders, realtors, and strive to maintain quality, affordable house for new families, citizens and seniors.
4. Do you support eliminating single family-exclusive zoning (i.e. eliminating the ban on duplexes in areas zoned R 1-4)?
Preservation of our single-family zoning is vitally important. I will strive to maintain zoning that preserves our unique, historic homes that are important to our heritage, charm and architectural history.
Okay, I’m not going to lie, that last one was rough, but here’s to hoping the very encouraging responses in the previous three responses are a better indicator of where Washington is on the issues in general. I’m going to hold off on any more commentary until Sunday’s final look at the race as a whole though, because I’ve got two more candidates to write about and a Friday night I’d like to enjoy. So, there’s number four. Up next is an analysis of the voting records of our two incumbents: Ellen Edman and Maggie Duwe. While you wait, I encourage you to read up on the three candidates I’ve written on so far: Liz Gibbons, Joseph Fuchs, and Bob Sears.
As always, thanks for tuning in and I hope you come back real soon! (like later this afternoon!)