Most of the letters regarding the upcoming vote on annexing various communities on the north of Kirkland assume the choice is to stay with King County or join Kirkland. The county is getting out of the land use business. It has been for the past 20 years. In this economic climate, it is getting serious about this goal. The county will force one of the cities around the annexation area to absorb the islands still in unincorporated King County.

So the question is not Kirkland vs. King County. The question is would you rather be governed by and receive services from Kirkland, Bothell, or Kenmore. For me it is a no-brainer – I’d much rather live in Kirkland.

Tom Cox, Finn Hill