Independence Day
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POSITION 6 | Bothell City Council candidates sit down for Q&A [9]
FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015
Legal issues follow Bothell Council candidate
Northshore area events for the Fourth of July
Reporter looks at position 4; McNeal has history of legal issues with IRS, felony in distant past Local elections bring a high level of scrutiny on each candidate for city council. While most candidates have a minimal history with the law, some do not have a clean record. This article looks into the criminal or court histories of Bothell Council Candidates vying for position 4.
BY DEANNA ISAACS disaacs@bothell-reporter.com
T
BY DEANNA ISAACS disaacs@bothell-reporter.com
A Bothell Reporter investigation has found through King County Court documents that Bothell City Council candidate James G. McNeal, 49, was charged with, and pled guilty to, felony eluding of police when he was 19 years old and had extensive issues with the
Internal Revenue Service that he has learned from from unpaid taxes the tax mistakes concerning a busimade while owning ness he owned. his own business. However, the McNeal, offspring candidate said that of a white mother racial profiling and a black father and harassment by who was an inspecpolice within King tor for the city of James McNeal County started long Seattle, started havbefore and contribing run-ins with the uted to the felony law around the time [ more LEGAL page 6 ] charge. McNeal also said
Hot Rods, Hot Dogs and Motorcycles The city of Kenmore will hold a public fireworks display tomorrow at Log Boom Park. REPORTER FILE PHOTO
fires from illegal fireworks. Parking for the Kenmore fireworks is limited and available on a firstcome first-served basis. Viewing areas are available around Log Boom Park and along the Burke-Gillman trail, among others. In addition to the fireworks display, Kenmore is welcoming several food trucks, such as 314 Pie, Ben & Jerry’s and Spot Hot Dogs & Brats, along with Uncle Stinky’s Magic wearable products and toys vendor. The city of Bothell allows the discharge of personal fireworks from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the Fourth of July. The sale, discharge or possession of fireworks is also illegal within unincorporated portions of Snohomish and King Counties thanks to a burn ban.
Now Enrolling for Camp Adventure Summer Program!
Bothell hosted the eighth annual Hot Rods, Hot Dogs and Motorcycles car show on June 27. The event raised money and food donations for the Eastside and Northshore charity Hopelink. For the full story see page 8. ROBERT ISAACS, Special to the Reporter
City of Kenmore officials push for more access to light rail BY DEANNA ISAACS disaacs@bothell-reporter.com
Following a Sound Transit presentation concerning the impacts of light rail transit coming to Shoreline, some citizens and cities of Kenmore and Bothell are pulling together to see light rail run through the Northshore area. 522 Transit Now! is a
non-profit organization that was started by residents and neighbors of Kenmore and Bothell, and aims to see Sound Transit create a line through the entirety of North Lake Washington. “[Kenmore has] rallied before when big issues come front and center… the stakes couldn’t be much higher for lifestyle, every day life is effected by
traffic,” said Doug Nugent, member of the 522 Transit Now! coalition and a volunteer on the Kenmore Planning Commission. “Let’s get everybody’s attention, because it’s summer, people are on vacation - that’s our biggest challenge right now. I think when people realize what’s at stake and how little time there is to respond, they will. Kenmore’s
done it before.” One of the reasons that the cities and the 522 Transit Now! coalition are working for increased mass transit in the area are the increases in populations in the north end of Lake Washington, the increased traffic from tolling along the I-405 and the 520 bridge and the lack of mass [ more TRANSIT page 3 ]
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he time of year for celebrating the independence of the United States has come again and so, too, has the time for parades, fire works displays and community engagement in Bothell and Kenmore. During the daylight hours on the Fourth of July, the city of Bothell will be hosting its annual Fourth of July Day Parade and Freedom Festival. This year’s parade theme is “We are victorious!” Celebrations start with a free pancake breakfast from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Bothell Fire Department in downtown Bothell, located at 10726 Beardslee Blvd. From there, residents will line Main Street in downtown Bothell for the annual parade. Open seating and good viewing locations don’t last long for this event. The Children’s Parade starts at 11:15 a.m. and the Grand Parade starts at noon, both winding through Main Street and Bothell-Everett Highway (SR 527). The city of Kenmore is hosting its annual Fourth of July Fireworks Show. The celebration begins at 8 p.m., with the Fireworks display starting at 10 p.m., at Log Boom Park. Personal fireworks are illegal in Kenmore and this year’s dry weather has led officials to warn residents about the threat of
Kenmore residents host summer party [2]