Kemper Freeman

Kemper Freeman Jr. is a third-generation resident of Bellevue, Washington. His grandfather, Miller Freeman, was active in state politics and public affairs, including promoting the development of a bridge connecting Seattle, Mercer Island, and Bellevue, Beginning in 1907, He founded the Anti-Japanese League of Washington in 1916 and was a vocal proponent for the state's 1921 alien land laws, the 1924 Immigration Act, and the 1942 incarceration of American citizens of Japanese ancestry in concentration camps during World War II, during which he developed the land confiscated from those interned. He also was involved in building Bellevue's first hospital, Overlake Hospital Medical Center. == Career ==

In 1973, Freeman Jr. was appointed to a vacant seat in the Washington State House of Representatives as a Democratic representing the 48th district. After serving for three years, he resigned from the seat to focus on his business in building and development. He then began working full-time on the expansion and enclosure of Bellevue Square with his father, which re-opened in 1981. In early-1980, Freeman Jr. founded the Kemper Development Company, • Lincoln Square, which opened in 2005 with condominiums, a movie theater, a bowling alley, restaurants, retail, office space, and the Westin Bellevue. == Political involvement ==

Freeman Jr. often speaks out against mass transit. In 1995 and 1996, Freeman Jr. led a campaign opposing the creation of a regional transit authority which later became Sound Transit, arguing "the automobile has won". In 2004 and 2008, Freeman backed state initiatives to convert HOV lanes and bus lanes to general traffic. Freeman has been a consistent opponent of Sound Transit's light rail plans. In 2002, the Freeman-backed group Sane Transit sued Sound Transit after the 1 Line was reduced in scope, alleging that a reduction in project scope required the agency to put the issue to another public vote. In 2008, Freeman campaigned against the plan to bring light rail to downtown Bellevue, and backed city council candidates in an effort to route the new light rail line alongside the I-405 freeway, away from population centers. Freeman sued Sound Transit in 2009, arguing that the use of the I-90 HOV lanes for light rail was illegal. The suit was ultimately rejected after being appealed to the Washington State Supreme Court. In 2011, Freeman supported Tim Eyman's Initiative 1125, a proposed tolling measure containing a subtle clause prohibiting any "non-highway purpose" for I-90. In 2016, Freeman spent $210,000 in opposition to Sound Transit 3, making up two-thirds of the nearly $316,000 donated to the "No on ST3" campaign. Freeman called the plan a "major calamity", criticizing the plan's timeline, cost, and scope. Freeman's motivations stem from a belief that cars provide significantly more personal freedom than transit. He believes that socialist nations have failed in part due to their reliance on public transportation. Critics have accused him of being motivated by classism, arguing that a 2005 comment about the Southcenter mall indicates his disdain for those who can't afford to shop at Bellevue Square: "When you walk through the [Southcenter] mall, the way the customer dresses just to shop there — the light blue and pink hair curlers, the shoes that flop, flop, flop along — it’s a completely different customer," said Freeman. "Yet we are 12 miles apart." ==Community involvement==

Freeman Jr. holds leadership appointments in several community and economic development organizations in the Bellevue area, including: • Co-chair of the capital campaign and member of the Executive Committee for the Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE), a series of five venues under construction in Bellevue that will feature theater, dance, and music when complete. The land for PACE was donated by Freeman Jr., who has also made a joint commitment with Microsoft to provide additional funding. ==References==