A special thanks goes out to Kirkland Views and the Kirkland Reporter for their coverage of the election. Because last week was the last edition of the Reporter before the primary election, there were many emotional letters to the editor. I applaud the paper for publishing as many of them as they could. The editorial by Ms. Carrie Wood was excellent.
Ms. Shattuck would vote for those who voted the most regardless of how they voted. She disregards what the candidates stand for and disregards the mess created by the current elected officials that have been voted into office.
Mr. Givens lambasted candidate Amy Walen saying she has “misconstrued” her ability to use her legal skills for the benefit of the citizens. I ask Mr. Givens what other candidate possesses legal skills? She has not forgotten what she’s learned. What other candidates puts citizens first? The other candidates bring with them the baggage of a broken system. It needs fixing not by previously appointed committee members who helped create this mess, but by someone with the ability and skills that listen to the people.
Ms. Tucker explains her reasons to support Ms. Walen. I agree.
Ms. Walen correctly points out why running for office can become inundated with false and unwarranted statements. She’s honest. She can look you in the eye and say I care. She means it. She cares for citizens, not the council’s decision to create a growing $10 million debt by overspending, money that we’ll have to take out of our pockets to bail them out from their bad decisions. We will be asked to make up for their mismanagement. She knows about sustainable budgets. I support her efforts to represent us, not those holding office. She cares for the citizens’ agenda, not the agenda of many seeking the opportunity to promote their own agenda.
Ms. Kloba says the council should update the budget projections with the current revenue forecast. I remind Ms. Kloba that the council has in my 22 years here never forecasted a balanced budget. They always forecast about a 10 percent budget gap in an attempt to justify fee and tax increases many of which would not be justified if the council created a sustainable budget.
Mr. Chukitus ignores the fact that the revenues from the PAA will not pay for the service levels that Kirkland now provides. We’re getting closer. Kirkland is lowering our level of service. You were promised 77 more policemen. Kirkland will get 37, some of which will serve the annexation area at first and for sometime later. There will be no more than three patrol officers at a time, not 37. He thinks annexation revenue is neutral, which is far from the truth. The realities he speaks of are myths, not fact, yet it’s people like him who believe it’s okay for Kirkland citizens to subsidize the millions it takes to provide Kirkland services and to pay for bonding debt as well as the growing $10 million budget debt created by council members who don’t know how to develop sustainable budgets.
Special thanks for all those who have expressed an opinion in the Kirkland Views and the Kirkland Reporter. Good ideas can be supported. Bad ideas can be thrown out.
Robert Styles, Kirkland
