Disappointment Over Candidate Forum Attendance in Burien

The League of Women Voters hosted a Candidate Forum on October 7, where only five of eight candidates for the Burien City Council attended. Sally Nelson, a former mayor, expressed her disappointment in a letter, underscoring the importance of public engagement in the electoral process. Candidates Sam Mendez, Jessica Ivey, Hugo Garcia, Rocco DeVito, and Sara Moore participated, while Stephanie Mora, Marie Barbon, and Claudio Fernandez did not. The absent candidates cited concerns over partisanship, which Nelson argued was an unfounded excuse given the League's non-partisan history. She suggested that their absence reflects a lack of commitment to public participation and transparency.

Nelson criticized their failure to provide substitutes or written statements, leaving voters without critical insights into their platforms. She urged all candidates to recognize the significance of direct communication with constituents. Nelson concluded by thanking the five candidates who attended and expressing concern over the three who chose not to participate.