Novice challenges city council incumbent Clark

A political novice who runs Philly cheesesteak stands at festivals hopes to replace a Seattle City Council member in the Nov. 6 election.

Judy Fenton, who wants to retrofit the Alaskan Way Viaduct and remove statues at the Olympic Sculpture Park, is running for Position 9 against incumbent Sally Clark, who wants to continue the work she's done for the city's neighborhoods.

"I'm a geek for Seattle's neighborhoods," Clark said.

"I want to figure out how to both retain the character that we like about them and see them grow in ways that allow new people to move in."

Clark was appointed in 2006 to fill a seat vacated by Jim Compton, then re-elected to the seat for one year. If elected, this would be the former nonprofit and neighborhood planner's first full term.

She chaired the council's neighborhoods committee, and says she lit a fire to update all the neighborhood plans, which Mayor Greg Nickels included in his 2008 budget proposal. While she took the lead on passing new nightclub restrictions to reduce violence and noise, she failed to get the votes for a license. The legislation has been postponed until next year.

"We have passed a good package of changes that I'm really hoping will make a difference," Clark said, adding that she is still working on changing how noise laws are enforced.

Fenton says her biggest issue is the Alaskan Way Viaduct, which she says should be retrofitted. It's the best and cheapest option, she said.

Clark wants to continue studying the possibility of replacing the aging roadway with a surface street.

Fenton also wants to remove the sculpture of a naked man and boy reaching out to each other in a fountain. She feels it teaches children unsafe boundaries. Clark says the city should not censor art.

Adding police officers is another concern, Fenton says. "I want to improve morale by getting a contract" for the police guild, and she said she wants to add a couple of hundred more police officers.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com