Note: In the interest of helping Pinehurst neighbors to learn about the candidates who are running for local office in 2009, I invited all candidates to submit information about them and their campaigns to post on the Pinehurst Blog. This is the second post in the series.
Hello to my neighbors and fellow Seattlelites,
My name is Dorsol Plants and I am running for Seattle City Council position 4. Before I get into the ‘why’ I am running let me first start by telling you a little about myself. I have been in community service my whole life, thanks in large part to the values my family taught me, particularly those of responsibility, compassion, and the firm belief that average people working together can make a difference in this world. I took those values to heart, and after graduating from high school I joined the United States Army. I proudly served my country in that capacity for five years, during which I completed two combat tours in Iraq.
After serving in the Army I chose to make my home in Seattle. As I established myself in the city, I discovered that the number and dedication of my fellow Seattlelites who shared my same convictions of building just and equitable communities inspired me, and I quickly became involved in working to strengthen my own neighborhood. I am presently an elected Precinct Control Officer for my home district’s Democratic Party and I served on the 34th District’s Executive Board for some time. I was also elected to chair the Highland Park Action Committee, which was known during my tenure for mobilizing not just our neighborhood but neighborhoods around the city against building a new jail. I also dedicate my time to strengthening Seattle by serving as a case manager at one of Seattle’s day-time drop in homeless shelters, using my experiences in and out of the Army to help homeless veterans secure jobs, housing and other basic needs.
These shared experiences as a case manager for homeless individuals and as a neighborhood community organizer have led me to run for City Council. In these positions I have come face-to-face with many of the challenges that Seattle has and will continue to face in the near future. These problems include a growing number of homeless men, women and children on our streets, neighborhoods that are becoming less and less friendly to middle and working class people, a transportation infrastructure that is congested and inadequately served by an overcrowded Metro system, and a City Hall that fails to communicate openly.
I have always believed in a strong local government that relies heavily on the wisdom of the people it serves. For me open, honest communication is the key to effective government. It is essential that the City Council and the Mayor’s office can have a free and open dialog between each other and the people of Seattle if we are to overcome many of the problems we face. It is my honest belief that together, united, we can overcome these challenges and it is my desire to serve the people of Seattle in this capacity.
Together we can create Neighborhood Plans with neighborhood leaders whose voices are heard and respected in City Hall. By opening lines of communication between residents, neighborhoods, and government leaders we can provide each of our diverse neighborhoods the opportunity to thrive and leave its own distinct mark on Seattle. Together we can review the city’s 10 year plan to end homelessness. By coordinating resources and enhancing basic shelter, we can revise our approach to homelessness to create a more efficient system that actually gets people into housing rather than passed from shelter to shelter. Together we can solve Seattle’s heavy transportation issue by bringing fresh perspectives and open communication between commuters, City Hall, and the many transit agencies that service Seattle. Together we can shape Seattle’s government to create an ongoing and open discussion between the Mayor’s office, the City Council, and the King County Council to solve problems rather than just pass them back and forth, and ultimately we can ensure that our public servants are held openly accountable to the people they work for: the people of Seattle.
Together we can and will do this, but to do it I will need your support. Please just take a moment to visit my website, www.dorsolplants.com or email me personally at Dorsol.Plants@gmail.com. Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you!
Be Safe,
Dorsol Plants
Candidate Seattle City Council Position 4
www.dorsolplants.com
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