(In response to Paul Deems’ letter). The “silly season” has certainly arrived. Being portrayed negatively is never pleasant for elected officials or candidates.

My work and my motives in seeking public office are the exact opposite of this letter, and the breadth of my endorsements demonstrates that.

As I did in my military career, I take quite seriously my obligation to the citizens of Kirkland. The writer takes some facts then embellishes and concocts them into sinister motives and accusations that don’t hold water.

I do receive retired pay from the Army. I do not draw on any other retirement system, nor will I for years to come. None of the sources of my income, now or in the future, are related to decisions I make as a member of the council.

In fact, I am the only citizen I know of to testify before the city’s Salary Commission to LOWER salaries of council members.

I have voted against taxes and budgets when I believed there were better ways to accomplish what we need to do as a community. I have specifically voted against the business license fee.

I have advocated against the council unilaterally adopting the $20 car tab for street maintenance. I believe the citizens of Kirkland need to participate in a complete program to turn around street conditions. Sustainable infrastructure and the lowest life-cycle costs are fundamental to what we should be working on and that is going to take voter’s approval of a solution, I believe.

I do not support red light cameras. I answered “Yes” to that lightening-round question at a recent candidate forum to explain the point that we are, in fact, looking at speed cameras in school zones to see if they would be effective in reducing threats to vulnerablechildren walking to and from school.

There is much more to consider on this topic, and IF it ever takes the form of a proposal you can be assured there will be the usual Kirkland way of gathering public input with multiple opportunities.

We have a pretty good city, here. I like to think I have contributed, in some small part, to building a better future for Kirkland.

I certainly try to do that, but we have elections to select who we want to help guide our future. With the voter’s endorsement, I can continue to contribute and listen to all the citizens of Kirkland.

Dave Asher, Kirkland Councilman