Whether the annexation vote lost by 11 or 1,000, the Kirkland City Council should not redo do the election results. It would be a mockery of the voting process to override the NO annexation majority vote, even if the election was close. By re-doing the election results, the council would further add to the increasing cynicism about government on any scale, local or national. It’s difficult enough to get the public to vote and ignoring election results would make a mockery of the voting system. The council would also be ignoring the voters and citizens of Kirkland’s community and fiscal interests.

If Kirkland citizens had an opportunity to vote on the annexation, which we didn’t, I have little doubt it would receive a resounding no vote.

The proposed annexed unincorporated area of King County has limited retail tax opportunities and the costs of providing services to this residential area will exceed the revenue generated. Annexing this area would simply push the city further in to the red financially. The city has already indicated that they will cut service levels in 2010. They will be stretching servicing even further, with limited resources if they should vote to annex the areas Finn Hill, upper Juanita, and Kingsgate.

Those living in the unincorporated area of King County had their chance to vote Yes for annexation and they made it clear that they didn’t support this with a majority vote. Kirkland Council, don’t mess with democracy!

Pat Harris, Kirkland