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Liberty soccer | Patriots had a week to rest, get ready for 3A state tournament opener after winning the KingCo [14]
FRIDAY, NOV. 2, 2012
Vote for your favorite film in Renton FilmFrenzy V There’s a battle going on between two films (you’ll need to go online to rentonreporter.com to find out which ones and root, ah, vote, for your favorite) in the voting for the People’s Choice Curvee in Renton FilmFrenzy V. The voting continues through noon Tuesday, with the results announced next Friday. The Curvee will be presented at the Nov. 19 Renton City Council meeting.
A matter of rights Referendum 74 gets down to basic question of special vs. equal rights and marriage definition
By DEAN A. RADFORD dradford@rentonreporter.com
By TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@rentonreporter.com
This year’s general election is about statewide and national elections, including the top of the ticket: governor and president. But there are key legislative races on Tuesday’s general election mail ballot that are important to Renton, which is part of five legislative districts, the 11th, the 41st, the 37th, the 5th and the 33rd. And voters on West Hill are deciding whether to annex to Renton as well as on an increase in their property taxes to help pay for fire services. Even if West Election details Hill votes to annex, when About a million voters in King County those 14,000 are casting their ballots in this year’s allor so residents important state and federal elections. actually become The mail-in ballots must be postRenton residents marked no later than Tuesday to count. is still a year or Last-minute voters can drop off their more away while ballots at a staffed outdoor receptacle at the city figures the King County Elections Division headout how to pay quarters, 919 S.W. Grady Way, Renton, for services before 8 p.m. there. Election information is available online Countywide, at kingcounty.gov/elections or by calling voters are being 206-296-VOTE (8683). asked to extend The county will release the first results the six-year, just after 8 p.m. on Tuesday at its election propertywebsite. tax levy that supports the county’s automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS). The cost in is 5.92 cents per $1,000 of a property’s assessed valuation in 2013, with small increases afterward. Statewide, voters are deciding the fate of same-sex marriage in Referendum 74 and the future of charter schools the state in Initative 1240. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell is up for re-election and U.S. Rep. Adam Smith is running in a redesigned District 9.
FYI
Wayne Clark-Elliott and his son Jonas Clark-Elliott chat over a magazine at home. The ClarkElliott family is committed to supporting equal rights for same-sex couples. Family photo around age 19 and says he couldn’t have better straight allies than his parents, Barb and Wayne Clark-Elliott. His family has “I don’t see Jesus been going to holding up a sign Parents, Families saying, ‘God hates and Friends of gays’.” Pastor Troy Lesbians and Gays or PFLAG Jones, New Life Church meetings for the past 14 years. “My parents couldn’t have been less difficult to come out to; their reactions were nothing compared to my fears,” said Jonas. Jonas’ parents would like to see Referendum 74 approved because they are getting older and are concerned about the happiness and well-being of
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their son. “We’re doing our best to set up a network, but he’s 33 now,” said Barb. “We just worry, what’s going to happen to him when we’re gone.” She recalls her own marriage to her husband Wayne and the comfort it gave her parents once she was married. “When your child is married, you assume that, that person is going to be in their life forever,” Barb said. “But, Jonas . . . it hasn’t worked out that way for him yet, but that doesn’t mean it won’t.” Pastor Troy Jones of New Life Church on the Maple Valley Highway in Renton sees the situation differently. In an interview, Jones said he was “not trying to come against a commu[ more marriage page 8 ]
206-949-1696 info@marciemaxwell.com 696186
Although Jonas Clark-Elliott hasn’t found the right person yet, he knows someday he’d like to marry another man. He wants the world to know that it’s a stereotype that gays can’t have committed, long-term relationships. Although he says gays were forced into clandestine meetings and sometimes quick hook-ups because of the stigma and prejudice, that isn’t the case today. “Today, it’s nothing but a stereotype,” he said. “The gay 18 to 30 set does tend to be promiscuous. So does the straight 18 to 30 set. It’s pretty common for many young people, but it’s never all.” This is partly why the 33-year-old Jonas of Renton supports Referendum 74, which if approved would confirm the state Legislature’s and Gov. Chris Gregoire’s support for same-sex marriage. While Jonas waits for the final vote to be tallied, opinions on the issue vary amongst local churches. To Jonas, the decision is clear. “This isn’t about special rights for anyone, it’s about equal rights,” he said. “It isn’t gay rights, it’s basic human rights. The right to marry whatever person you love, male or female or any other gender, and there are other categories.” He wants all the legal rights that come with being married. He came out about his sexuality
West Hill annexation, key statewide, federal issues on the ballot