Kirkland Reporter, December 14, 2012

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KIRKLAND .com

REPORTER

NEWSLINE: 425.822.9166

BOY ARRESTED | Kirkland 15-year-old arrested after crashing car on 405, running from police [9]

Lake Street Place | Neighbors say large FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012 proposed development is out of scale [12]

A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

School expansion | Kirkland Children’s School expands [3]

Controversial Republican-led Senate coalition aims to split power Democrat Rodney Tom, 48th District Senator, joins Republican-led coalition BY CARRIE RODRIGUEZ crodriguez@kirklandreporter.com

T

wo Democratic state senators announced Monday they will join an unprecedented Republican-led Senate coalition that aims to split power between the two parties. The Majority Coali-

tion Caucus proposes to have six Democrat-led committees, six committees led by Republicans and three panels that are evenly split between the two parties. Those committees will have no more than a one-vote majority. Sen. Rodney Tom (D-Bellevue), who will serve as the coalition’s

majority leader, said during a news conference in Olympia that “the public is hungry for us to come together, to work together in a collaborative manner and that’s exactly what this coalition is trying to accomplish. We want a cooperative relationship and making sure that we work across party lines.” Sen. Tim Sheldon, who is also a conservative Democrat, will serve as the body’s president pro

tempore. and needs of the state’s The coalition currently middle class. has 25 Senate members Republican senators and Tom hopes also lauded the other Democrats effort as an eqwill join. uitable approach The body’s govthat would evenly erning principles divide the govinclude promoting erning structure job growth in a across party lines. vibrant economy, But the proposal Rodney Tom ensuring a world is drawing opposiclass education tion from some system and building a Democratic Party leaders, sustainable budget. Tom who say the coalition is noted those are values risky and would bring

instability and more gridlock to Olympia. Washington State Democratic Party Chair Dwight Pelz said in a news release that Senators Tom and Sheldon stood for re-election as Democrats in 2010. “But today, (they) turned their backs on the Democratic Party by siding with a radically right Republican caucus that earlier this year attempted [ more TOM page 7

Conviction in Kirkland road-rage incident

Council makes final decision on Potala Village zoning

BY CARRIE RODRIGUEZ

At least one dozen opponents of the Potala Village project dressed in red at the last Kirkland City Council meeting of the year Tuesday to express dissatisfaction on an unclear zoning code that would affect development in the Moss Bay neighborhood, among others. But in the end, the group walked away with a compromised victory. On a 4-3 vote, the Kirkland City Council voted to amend the zoning code, which caps density for Neighborhood Business (BN) zones at 48 units per acre. The amendment also exempted the 25 percent bonus for developers looking to provide affordable housing. Council members and residents alike were shocked to discover an [ more POTALA page 13 ]

BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@kirklandreporter.com

crodriguez@kirklandreporter.com

A Bothell man was found guilty on Monday of pulling out a gun during a Kirkland road-rage incident in April. A jury found Phillip Warren Baxter, 64, guilty on one count of second-degree assault during his trial in King County Superior Court. His sentencing is set for Dec. 19 and he faces three to ninth months in jail. The victim in the case claimed that Baxter pulled his vehicle in front of her car in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood the morning of April 10. She said his car was driving at a speed of 15 mph in a 35-mph zone, according to charging documents. She admitted to follow[ more RAGE page 7 ]

‘Twas the night before Christmas The StoryBook Theater presents ‘Twas the night ... at Studio East. From the talented team who create the musicals for StoryBook Theater, this hilarious spin on the familiar holiday poem is guaranteed to have the whole family laughing. Join the Big Family and their menagerie as they await the coming of St. Nick. Now in its 12th year, this Studio East tradition includes new surprises each year. The production runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 14-16 at Studio East Mainstage Theater, 11730 118th Ave. N.E., Kirkland. Tickets cost $14 for all ages. For information, call the Studio East Box Office at 425-820-1800. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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