If you haven’t voted yet, I encourage you to vote this weekend and, of course, I hope to earn your support.

I’ve grown up in Kirkland, attended school here and now work here. This community has been great to my family and I plan to build my future here. As I’ve repeated many times going door to door, I want to make sure your kids as well as future generations have the same opportunities at the American Dream my family has enjoyed.

I could suggest many reasons you should vote for me, but let me touch on three:

Taxes: Kirkland property taxes have increased 6 times in four years, will increase twice this year if Prop 1 passes, and still the politicians plan three more increases next year. I think taxpayers deserve a break and the city should live within the taxes you already pay. We need to remember that every family has a limit to their income, some less than others, and I’ve personally talked to Kirklanders cutting even food or medicine to pay property taxes and some even feeling forced to sell their longtime home and move. I will remember you and your neighbors and be your pro-taxpayer voice on the city council.

Trails: I will protect the Cross Kirkland Trail as a distinctive community asset. My opponent’s misplaced plan to build an exclusive two lane bus way for Metro Rapid Transit buses running up and down the trail would destroy the character of the trail as well as waste tax dollars. The same dollars spent on improving the roads taxpayers have already paid for will enable both buses and cars to move more easily around Kirkland and to their final destinations.

Trust: Sometimes little things tell you a lot about a person. I trust you to run your life. My opponent doesn’t, and a clear example is when she ignored the wishes of 70 percent of Kirklanders in the city’s own paid survey, voted to take away your choice, ban plastic bags, and force stores to start charging you extra for a paper bag starting next year (conveniently after this election!) Whether you prefer a reusable bag, a plastic bag or a paper bag, I trust you to decide that question without meddling politicians looking over your shoulder. I’ll work to focus the city council on real issues like minimizing neighborhood cut thru traffic, completing safe school walk routes and getting road projects like 85th completed faster and with less disruption to the community.

I’ll bring fresh energy, newer ideas and a younger perspective to the council. I know I don’t know all the answers, so I listen well. I also believe we have world class private sector innovative thinking here in Kirkland that we need to draw on. Working together, we can build a bright future for our Kirkland. I would appreciate your support.

Jason Chinchilla, Kirkland City Council candidate