Seattle Works, the newish civic group for the under-40 crowd has published a voters guide for the local primary. Candidates for county and city council and school board were asked some pretty good questions and given a fair amount of space for responses. The answers were published in full, and in their original state with typos and other errors left for all to see.

The candidates were asked how they have "worked effectively with someone from the Generation X/Y demographic" and other questions that get more at the philosophy of governing than positions on specific issues. I'm comfortably out of the target demograhphic, but I found the guide interesting, even entertaining, and I learned plenty about the candidates. (Confidential note to school board candidate Danaher Dempsey, Jr.: I can abide the Gregorian chant answer. But if you say you haven't lived here long enough to have a favorite coffee shop or hear a local band, is it really the right time to run for public office?)

I particularly liked this question asked of all candidates:

Some people describe the Seattle way of decision making as inclusive but inconclusive.

How would you describe Seattle's decision-making process and what, if anything, would you do to change it if you are elected?

Here's City Councilmember Jean Godden's answer:

The Seattle way of decision-making is accused of being cumbersome. However, the goal is to involve as many in the process as possible. Ideally, this reliance on citizen participation enables everyone to take ownership of decisions. I have been part of the civic-Involvement process and believe it serves us well. But would I change the process? Not a lot. While It might help to channel the and compress the process, I would hesitate to hurry to the point of not allowing sufficient comment. Ten years ago, citizens did not have an opportunity to address council except during hearings. Now there is time allotted for public comment on relevant agenda Items at all full council and committee meetings. I do listen. Several times, I have changed my mind after hearing citizen comment. One example: After hearing from more than 100 citizens at the Seattle Center hearing, I pushed successfully for enhanced funding for SCAN, the Seattle Citizen Action Network, programming, Channel 77.

Some of my other favorite questions and answers:

Where is your favorite coffee shop?

John Manning: I do not have one.

I can see the hit piece now: Venus Velazquez sits at Cherry Street Coffee in front of a steaming cup and says to the camera: "John Manning doesn't like coffee. What other Seattle values doesn't he like?"

Who is your favorite music group?

Godden: The Decemberists

That's either great staff work or Godden is a lot cooler than I've been led to believe.

Is the current school board model effective?

Darlene Flynn: It is as effective as the current U.S. Presidency or Congress "model".

Oh, "good."

Outside of funding, what in your opinion is the root problem with education?

Edwin Fruit: Capitalism. System is not to teach about life and cultulre but to vchurn out workers to puonch clocks and others who will perpetuate the current system. Schools teach to the test. Edcuation should be a life long pursuit not just what you do until you are 18. This society is not geared for real education.

Well, capitalism and faulty spell-check.