Head on over to the 2012 Jefferson Awards page and nominate your hero today!

You can also learn more about the Jefferson Awards by checking out this edition of Comcast Newsmakers Western Washington with our very own Program and Operations Manager, Jessica Jones!

The nomination deadline for the 2012 Washington State Jefferson Awards is fast approaching!  The nomination period closes at 5pm on February 10th.  Don't miss the deadline, nominate today!

The Jefferson Awards honor the unsung heroes in our communities that go above and beyond to help those less fortunate than themselves.  People who work tirelessly for the good of others and don't ask for any thanks, though they probably deserve it.  Do your part to remind them that their work does not go unnoticed!  Nominate your unsung hero for a Jefferson Award!

Go to www.SeattleCityClub.org/JeffersonAwards for more information on the nomination process, or to fill out a nomination form.

The Lightning Round at our 2012 Legislative Preview was a big hit again this year.

See what our legislators on the panel had to say on  key questions when they had to think fast!

What would your answer be to these questions? Share with us on facebook.

See below for the answers from our panelists Rep. Gary Alexander, Senator Lisa Brown, Senator Mike Hewitt, and Rep. Pat Sullivan.

Pictured and answers from left to right:

Rep. Gary Alexander       Senator Lisa Brown      Senator Mike Hewitt      Rep. Pat Sullivan

1) Should there be an increase in the state sales tax to buy back cuts and services?

Alexander - NO                 Brown - YES                        Hewitt - WAFFLE              Sullivan - YES

2)Do you think a package of government reforms should be sent to the ballot allong with sales tax or other tax increases?

Alexander - NO                 Brown - NO                        Hewitt - NO                        Sullivan - NO

3) Should exisiting non-tribal card rooms be allowed to have video slot machines as a way to raise revenue for the state?

Alexander - YES                Brown - NO                        Hewitt - YES                        Sullivan - WAFFLE

4) Should plastic bags be banned statewide (even in Walla Walla)?

Alexander - NO                 Brown - NO                        Hewitt - NO                        Sullivan - NO

5) Do you support sending a transportation funding package to voters this year?

Alexander - no answer    Brown - YES                      Hewitt - no answer         Sullivan - NO

6) Do you support the idea of sending a bond measure - sort of a works progress administration style bond measure - to create jobs and fix state infrastructure  - send that to the ballot?

Alexander - NO                 Brown - WAFFLE               Hewitt - WAFFLE              Sullivan - YES (unless we

                                                                                                                                            can do it on our own.)

7) Do you think Washington should legalize Marjijuanna?

Alexander - NO                 Brown - WAFFLE               Hewitt -no answer          Sullivan - NO

8) Do you think the Legislature will pass a gay marriage bill this session?

Alexander - NO                 Brown - YES                        Hewitt - WAFFLE              Sullivan - YES

9) And if gay marriage passes in the Legislator do you think the voters will repeal it?

Alexander - YES                Brown - NO                        Hewitt - YES                        Sullivan - NO

10) Will there be any further cuts to higher education in Washington in this  next budget session?

Alexander - WAFFLE       Brown - WAFFLE               Hewitt - NO                        Sullivan - WAFFLE

11) Will the Legislature finish on time in 60 days?

Alexander - YES                Brown - YES                        Hewitt - NO                        Sullivan - YES

Please consider a year-end gift to CityClub to:

• grow our technology infrastructure, 
• strengthen outreach,
• build our youth initiative.

Robust social networking, broadcast, streaming, and online programming are essential tools to make CityClub available:

• across generations,
  
• across socioeconomic barriers,
  
• across the state.

As Lynn Briody, Councilmember and Mayor of Sunnyvale, CA, the"Heart of Silicon Valley," put it so eloquently in her recent letter:

"I thought long and hard about this donation. There are so many needs and wants in society at this time by human services organizations that I had to find an overarching reason to support CityClub...

I did so by calling up my memory of how I first became energized by civics and political action.

I was probably about twelve when I heard through my school about how one could form a Civics Club. The goal for its members was to constitute a list of elected officers and set an agenda. The Club would also follow what was happening in Congress, the State Legislature and at the city and county levels.

It seemed terribly exciting, but as I was a rather shy person, I never acted upon my desire to start a Civics Club. Instead, at the ripe old age of 36 I remembered this passion, submitted my resume to become a City Planning Commissioner, and was accepted. Two years later, I began my eight-year career as a City Councilmember, one year as Mayor.

During that time, I was the impetus behind an Industrial Moratorium resulting in the rezoning of 2300 acres of commercial land to residential land, to address our Jobs-Housing Imbalance. I estabilished a Regional Leadership Forum, consisting of three major universities, to promote character and competence in local leadership. I founded Leadership Sunnyvale, still in existence to this day. I supported the creation of senior housing, a senior community center, single occupancy housing, I worked on EPA Task Forces to prevent the further degradation of our soil by groundwater contamination. And So on.

You get the point, and so did I. If it had not been for the initial stimulus in my youth to establish a passion for political action, for political ethics, and for civil civic discourse I never would have accomplished what I did for my city. I would never have made the difference I did.  

So, please accept this contribution as a small payback of what was given to me. If I can convince one young person that being part of the political process is a good, worthwhile endeavor, that result will be worth much more than I now give or will give to your youth civic education process…."

(Pictured: Award Winner, 2008 Community Matters Campaign)

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