Everett, Wash.
Published: Tuesday, September 16, 2008

FCCS

Somers has taken right stand on issue

 I recently received a mailer accusing Snohomish County Councilman Dave Somers of being "anti" Growth Management Act and encouraging urban sprawl because he does not support the "fully contained community" as proposed for the Lake Roesiger area.

While I am not a Democrat and I don't agree with Councilman Somers on everything, he is spec on here and deserves praise for the stance he has taken. Self-contained communities such as this will worsen the existing traffic problems in rural and suburban East Snohomish County, have serious negative effects on our ecosystems and divert many millions of dollars from the already challenged economies of neighboring cities directly into the county coffers. Existing cities are far better equipped to best handle the inevitable growth our region is experiencing.

I am pleased to see that Councilman Somers has reached across party lines to work with us to stop this form of damaging and inappropriate development. He may not have taken the politically popular stance, but he took the right one. Thanks, Dave.

Mitch Ruth
City Councilman
Monroe
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA