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What Others Say About Karen Messmer


"Messmer has an ability to listen to others I am writing to express my support for Karen Messmer for Olympia City Council. Olympia faces important challenges in the next few years, including ways to enhance our downtown, the vision for our waterfront and the city's role in building a sustainable economy and vibrant community. I believe that we need to elect council members who are committed to educating the public, engaging fellow council members and citizens in meaningful debate and willing to critically evaluate staff and citizen recommendations in order to come to an independent assessment of what's best for the City. I believe Messmer possesses all of these qualities.

For the past three years, I have had the opportunity to work with Messmer as a member of the city's Planning Commission. As chair of the commission, Messmer has led us through a variety of challenging issues.
I admire her passion for public involvement.

Messmer shows an ability to engage people in solving the city's problems while recognizing that there are no easy solutions.

While there have been issues where we have not agreed over the past few years, I have always found Messmer committed to listening to others, respecting their points of view and willing to search for an inclusive solution.
I believe that Messmer will focus on local issues that are extremely important to our community and do it in a way that serves us all.

I believe that Karen Messmer's experience, values and perspective will be a welcome addition to the Olympia City Council."

-Joel Sacks, October 25, 2005

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"Karen has the knowledge and experience to represent us on the City Council. She cares about the Downtown and will listen and explore our concerns. "

 

-Paul Seabert, Downtown Business Owner

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Karen Messmer Will Listen to Community Members
Karen Messmer has earned my support in her bid for Olympia City Council. I worked with Messmer on last summer's Parks and Sidewalks campaign. As a volunteer campaign committee member, she provided thoughtful insights as well as endless hours working in the community promoting the measure.

Messmer has been a tireless volunteer for many years in the community. She skillfully has chaired the Planning Commission for four terms and has served as a member for 11 years.
She led the Planning Commission's creation of a low-impact development code for Green Cove. It was designed to help protect the best salmon-spawning creek in the city.
That area is now under development at Cooper Crest. The Olympia Master Builders just featured this area in their "Build Green" development, showing low-impact development options, energy-efficiency options, plus the use of recycled and sustainably-harvested building materials.

As a council member, I believe she will listen to community members and make sound decisions that will improve our neighborhoods and our downtown. She will be an eagle eye on transportation issues, maximizing our tax dollars to improve pedestrian accessibility and safety. Messmer also has the ability to find creative solutions to the many challenges that will face the council in the next four years.

I urge others to support Karen Messmer for Olympia City Council.

-Beth Doglio, Olympian, August 7, 2005


Messmer Sees the Need For Collaboration
I am writing in support of Karen Messmer for Olympia City Council.
I met her in 1996, when the planning commission appointed her liaison to the city parks advisory board. She is a person who asks questions regarding issues, listens to others and is willing to make tough decisions.

In my opinion, Messmer is someone who wants to see a vibrant and sustainable Olympia community. She is interested in the growth and support of businesses.
Through her involvement on the city planning commission and the parks/sidewalks campaign, Messmer understands the needs of neighborhoods and the downtown area, basic city services, and future growth issues for the city.

She likes the city's current approach to open government and the involvement of citizens in the community.

She sees the need for more collaboration with other cities and governmental agencies in and around Olympia.

Messmer is a person who will work to provide representative government in Olympia that is effective and accountable.

I am asking you to support Karen Messmer's campaign for City Council.

 

-James D. Reddick, Olympia The Olympian, April 18, 2005

 

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Messmer Has Calm, Even Approach to Challenges
Karen Messmer will be an outstanding addition to the Olympia City Council.
I first met Messmer when I was appointed to the city of Olympia Planning Commission. She was chairwoman at the time, as she is now.

I was immediately impressed with her calm and even demeanor, especially during contentious public hearings. I continue to be impressed with Messmer's attention to detail and her commitment to asking difficult questions of City Council members in hopes of improving our city.

Messmer has proven her commitment to our community in her service on city of Olympia advisory boards since 1988. There is no one more capable or better prepared for the challenges that our council faces.

What I appreciate most about Messmer is her ability to ask, listen and lead.
Join me in supporting Karen Messmer for Olympia City Council.

-Cary Retlin, Olympia The Olympian, February 23, 2005

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Messmer advocates for a healthier population
I've been an Olympia planning commissioner with Karen Messmer for nearly five years. The problem I have with her running for Olympia City Council is that she would be leaving our table behind.

However, her election can still be a winning scenario. Her nature is to be a true diplomat: cognizant of all sides of an issue, even though her personal opinions already fall in line with the majority of her fellow constituents.

Messmer advocates discussion on growth management. With 30,000 future Olympia residents projected between 2000 and 2050, what types of housing can be made available and affordable? What are the social, environmental and economic impacts? Answers to these questions will continue to evolve, and Messmer will be a key person in those discussions.
Messmer advocates for a healthier population. She supports development of local sustainable farms. She encourages use of mass transit and connecting sidewalks, trails and bike lanes to give people other local commuting and recreation options.

Messmer has local credibility. Her personal efforts have always been about improving the quality of life in the community at a level that's visible and effective. This is recently exemplified by her extensive volunteer support for last year's parks bond.

There are many sides to every issue, even those that seem to have obvious solutions. I have confidence that Karen Messmer will be the councilmember with the breadth of experience to see all sides, and the wisdom to help find a solution. Vote for Karen Messmer in November.

- Thomas Carver, Olympia, October 24, 2005

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Messmer Has Skills and Leadership Ability
Karen Messmer is well qualified for the Olympia City Council. She has served Olympians for more than a decade as a volunteer on the Olympia Planning Commission – and was elected chair four times.
She has led many of the major pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements that have made our town safer and more livable. She has been an advocate for parks and urban forests. In her professional career, she helps businesses, governments and homeowners conserve energy use.
Messmer is a truly creative and thoughtful leader with a strong commitment to our community and wise use of our natural resources. Her history of volunteer participation in Olympia’s governance is evidence of her skills, leadership, and values.

-Stacey Waterman-Hoey The Olympian February 21, 2005

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"I support Karen's vision of a future Olympia - more parks and trails and sidewalks and bike paths. She'll help create a healthier community for everyone."

-Dorothy Gist, Health Educator and Senior Citizen, May 3, 2005

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“Karen truly loves Olympia. Her passion for the community and her extensive volunteer experience will make her a great Councilmember. I’m looking forward to working with her.”

-T.J. Johnson, Olympia City Councilmember, February 4, 2005

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As a member of the Planning Commission, I get a first-hand view of Karen Messmer's leadership abilities and know she would make a great City Councilmember.

Her facilitation skills help to ensure good process in which everyone gets heard. She is friendly and approachable, listens to others, and keeps an open mind. She asks tough but fair questions, and draws out the energy and enthusiasm of her fellow commissioners. She has been a staunch advocate for her committee, helping to ensure that it has realistic work loads, and can deliver quality recommendations to the Council.

Her passion for a healthy and vibrant community is clearly evident in her dedication to her civic commitments. We are fortunate that she's running. Please join me in supporting her.

-Larry Leveen, Downtown Olympia Business Owner, April 29, 2005

 

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