At Bitter Lake's community center, young and old alike nibble on the frosted sugar cookies they grabbed at the door and settle into the rows of folding metal chairs. "Welcome to the neighborhood, Lois. Thanks for coming out," Clark says in response to a gripe about the lack of bus service. "I'm going to do an awful thing: Can I ask you to come up to the mike and introduce yourself for the record?" she asks a woman who shouts a complaint from the audience.
Clark obviously misses the hands-on nature of the neighborhood work she did before joining the City Council. "For me, it's about being out there," she says. "Now, I get to parachute in and enjoy the benefits of other people's work."
David Belisle
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Podlodowski feels Clark may well become that "neighborhood voice" on the council, but says she needs to be louder.
"You've got to get out there and show what you've done. She's getting better about that," Podlodowski says, adding that Clark's quick wit often shines behind closed doors. "I've told her she needs to bring this out more. It will help her stand out, but she's also smart enough to know that you can't please everybody."
Jim Diers, Clark's former boss at the Department of Neighborhoods, says he's disappointed she hasn't been a stronger advocate for neighborhoods on the council. He says the neighborhood planning program, neighborhood leadership program, and neighborhood matching fund have all taken huge hits in the budget under the current mayor—and that Clark has done little to try to restore funding. However, Diers says that he's encouraged by Clark's recent efforts to get the city auditor to review the city's progress in implementing neighborhood plans.
Diers says he supported Clark during the nomination process, but that he also supported rivals Chao and Maeda. "I had a question about Sally," he says. "I was a little surprised that she was going on the council. I knew she had a real strong commitment to the community, but I didn't know where she stood on things. When she ran last year, she asked for support. I said I was waiting to see where she stood on the issues."
Diers says Clark has also asked him for his endorsement this year, but he remains noncommittal. "I really like Sally," he says. "She's very smart; I think she's got a lot of integrity. But I've been disappointed she hasn't raised more questions with the executive. She hasn't created a lot of waves, hasn't done anything controversial. One the other hand, she hasn't taken any of her own initiatives, either."
Podlodowski agrees. She says it's time for Clark to emerge as a leader, to help make the council a place where things aren't processed to death, to help ensure its members and their voices are not irrelevant.
And maybe, every once in awhile, be a little less nice.
"It happens in everyone's political career. It's time for her to come out on the issues," says Podlodowski. "I'm a big supporter of Sally Clark. She gets it. My challenge to her is to lead the five. Find five votes and lead them on the tough issues. Get the work done. She can do it."
acurl@seattleweekly.com
