Clifford To Run For County Council

RENTON - Chris Clifford, a 34-year-old community activist, is running for the Metropolitan King County Council seat being vacated by Bruce Laing, R-Bellevue.

Clifford, a Republican who owns a sports bar in Seattle, will be making his fourth bid for office. He lost Renton City Council races in 1989 and 1991 and a bid for the state Senate in the 33rd Legislative District last year.

A former research analyst for the Republican state caucus in Olympia, Clifford has worked on controversial civic issues. He was part of a group that helped delay a Boeing Co. development on the former Longacres horse-racing track. He also opposed mosquito spraying in the Panther Creek wetlands and toll roads on Highway 18.

Clifford's competition in the Republican primary for the 6th District seat will be Rob McKenna, a Bellevue attorney; Bill Reams, who represents the Bellevue area in the state House of Representatives; and Linda Jackman, a Mercer Island city councilwoman.

The lone Democrat so far is Sharon Mast, who serves on Bellevue's Human Services Commission.

The 6th District includes portions of Bellevue, Mercer Island and most of Renton.