For the record, I’m a chronologically endowed, newly-confirmed Kirkland citizen.

Along with “she who must be obeyed,” we’ve called Kirkland our home since 1974. The last 35 years have been on Juanita Drive, referred to as unincorporated King County, until annexed into the City of Kirkland on June 1.

Three years ago it was widely rumored that this part of Finn Hill might become integrated into Bothell, then Kenmore, then Kirkland.

We had coffee with Councilwoman Jessica Greenway and asked her take on whether or not we’d become a part of Kirkland. She said that in good conscience she was not inclined to vote for such a measure.

Her reason: There wasn’t any indication the region could be sustained on only the portion of the property taxes that would be diverted to the city from King County.

In other words, Kirkland’s funds were already committed to public safety, streets, parks and other programs its residents expected. She was demonstrating her commitments to fiscal responsibility.

She did advise us to support annexation because she said we would benefit from Kirkland’s quality services. In spite of misinformation supplied by her detractors, Greenway enthusiastically embraced annexation and is dedicated to make it work for all Kirkland citizens.

We’re happy to be in the Kirkland family even with some additional taxes.

Many residents may not know that before being elected to the city council in 2003, Jessica Greenway worked to make her neighborhood more visible to council members. She was a founding member and president of the South Rose Hill—Bridle Trails Neighborhood Association.

And she rallied the council to set aside and acquire property for new neighborhood parks and improvements. The McAuliffe Park on 116th Street became a reality due to her diligence.

Here’s another little thing that Greenway accepted to make her neighborhood more attractive. She and her husband Ken have planted and continue to maintain, at their own expense, a traffic circle in their Norkirk neighborhood at 15th Avenue and 2nd Street.

Her opponent claims he can make “big” economic things happen for Kirkland, yet he hasn’t even demonstrated the similar “little” things that Greenway fought for as an ordinary citizen.

She has also fought to retain commercial zoning for the site that became Google’s Kirkland headquarters; the location formerly known as the Sauder Door Company industrial site until Google moved in. And the firm has grown into hundreds of good paying jobs in Kirkland.

Her opponent is trying to paint her into the corner of stifling economic development. Could it be that he’s carrying the message of a Bellevue property development Political Action Committee that is pumping thousands of dollars into his campaign?

Maybe when the opponent demonstrates a certain caring to fight for a park, convince downtown landlords to reduce rents on vacant store locations, or even plant and care for a traffic circle, will he have credibility to ask us to consider letting him join the Kirkland City Council.

Daniel Lees, Finn Hill