Federal Way Mirror, March 07, 2014

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LEGISLATURE | Miloscia announces bid for 30th District Republican seat [3]

VOL. 16, NO. 10

Mirror

F E D E R A L WAY

division of Sound Publishing

OPINION | Mayor’s Memo: Making a neighborhood connection [4] Roegner: PACC key to Council appointment [4] CITY | Council to establish loan program that could fund PACC, other projects [7] BLOTTER | Shoplifter steals from 11 Target stores, faces felony charges [12]

SPORTS | Beamer blows by Bothell, to FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 | 75¢ play at State Tournament [8]

COMMUNITY | Federal Way students set to take trips to Japan [18]

Assefa-Dawson appointed as new council member

Lydia Assefa-Dawson will fill the Federal Way City Council seat vacated by current Mayor Jim Ferrell. chris carrel, City of Federal Way by Greg Allmain gallmain@fedwaymirror.com

I

t took two rounds of nominations and votes, but the Federal Way City Council eventually voted 4-2 in favor of candidate Lydia Assefa-Dawson to fill the seat vacated by current Mayor Jim Ferrell during a special meeting on March 1. AssefaDawson was nominated by Councilmember Martin Moore, with Council members Kelly Maloney and Susan Honda the dissenting votes. “I just wanted to say thank you very much for nominating me and electing me,” Assefa-Dawson

said after taking her seat behind the dais. “You know I’m going to need your help and I hope that you’re willing to work with me. And I will not let you down, and plan on (bringing) hard work as part of this team.” Assefa-Dawson was part of three nominees in the second vote, with Council members Bob Celski and Maloney nominating Don Smith and Gregory Baruso, respectively. The two votes for Smith and Baruso ended in 3-3 ties, following a pattern from the first round of nominations earlier in the afternoon. In the first round of

nominations, Baruso and Smith were nominated by Maloney and Celski, while Moore nominated Anthony Murietta. Murietta’s vote was a 5-1 no vote, with Moore the only yes. The other two votes split 3-3, causing the Council to reconvene for executive session for the second time during the afternoon. After a long and arduous process that lasted the majority of the day, Council members thanked the applicants for their time and energy. “I want to personally thank all of the applicants, and the family members too who are here, for giving up your Saturday,” said Deputy Mayor Jeanne Burbidge. “And for taking such a serious interest in the future of this city to apply for these positions. Filling a council vacancy is a difficult task with making choices among so many qualified candidates, and we certainly had those today.” Burbidge added the Council’s goal was to conduct the process in as transparent as possible way, and that was also [ more COUNCIL, page 3 ]

Backyard chickens

Jeanette Brizendine feeds chickens that she raises in her backyard. The city will hold a free “Backyard Chickens” workshop from 6-8 p.m. March 12 at Federal Way City Hall. The workship will cover how to care for a small flock of hens in a limited space. Seattle Tilth instructors will share tips on health, nutrition and shelter for backyard chickens. RSVP by calling (253) 835-2700 or visit www.cityoffederalway.com/greenliving. photo courtesy of city

City settles with man claiming police used excessive force By Carrie Rodriguez editor@fedwaymirror.com

The city of Federal Way has settled a civil rights

lawsuit filed by a man who claimed police stomped on his back and chained him to a bench for hours after detectives arrested him as a person of interest in a 2008 murder. The city will pay $130,000 in return for settling Randall Fontana’s lawsuit against the city, the

Federal Way Police Department (FWPD) and five police officers. “The Federal Way Police Department vigorously denies any wrongdoing by its officers when Mr. Fontana was taken custody as part of a murder investigation,” wrote Andy Hwang, interim Police Chief, in

an email. “I fully support the actions of the officers involved – the decisions by the officers were reasonable and lawful given the circumstances. The decision to settle the matter was strictly a business decision by the city’s insurance carrier.” The case stems from the 2008 murder of 75-year-old

Jane Britt, who was found dead in the trunk of her Mercedes-Benz at the Garden Terrace nursing home where her husband lived. Joseph Njonge, a nursing home employee, was later arrested and convicted of the murder. However, Federal Way detectives first focused on

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Fontana, whose father also stayed at the nursing home. Two years prior to the murder, Fontana approached Britt and attempted to get her to join with him in his complaints against the facility, however she became upset and told him to leave her alone, according to [ more POLICE, page 3 ]


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