Time to change how city governed

When I first moved to Lynnwood in 1985, I was deeply impressed by the dedication of our elected officials who worked tirelessly to provide the necessary services expected by her citizens. They generally left the politics at the door and focused on doing what was best for the city.

I use to read and laugh at the politics of our neighboring jurisdictions. Now, the continuing jockeying, finger-pointing and lack of focus on managing our city’s finances have made us the local laughingstock.

On Nov. 8, there is a ballot measure that will bring back professionalism and accountability to city government; please vote for and support the efforts to change our current city council/mayor to a city council/city manager form of government.

The single vote that you possess can make a real difference in restoring sanity to our current city government.

As a retired public service employee, former Edmonds Community College trustee and former Lynnwood planning commissioner, I have had the opportunity to work with and for leaders who possessed the professional qualifications, human relations and personal leadership skills to effectively empower their workforce to do amazing things for the communities they served. It was not an issue of having sufficient revenue but the ability to manage those resources wisely and to work with the legislative leaders to establish the necessary public policy for good and open government.

Individuals like Bob Drewel, Jack Oharah, Mayor Hrdlicka, to name a few.

It is time for change! Your vote can make a difference.

Alison W. Sing

Lynnwood

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

Everett Mayor Ray Stephenson, center, talks with Alaska Airlines Inc. CEO Brad Tilden after the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Paine Field passenger terminal on Monday, June 5, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Editorial: Alliance makes renewed pitch for economic efforts

Leading in the interim, former Everett mayor Ray Stephanson is back as a catalyst for growth.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Tuesday, Jan. 14

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Participants in Northwest WA Civic Circle's discussion among city council members and state lawmakers (clockwise from left) Mountlake Terrace City Council member Dr. Steve Woodard, Stanwood Mayor Sid Roberts, Edmonds City Council member Susan Paine, Rep. April Berg, D-Mill Creek; Herald Opinion editor Jon Bauer, Mountlake Terrace City Council member Erin Murray, Edmonds City Council member Neil Tibbott, Civic Circle founder Alica Crank, and Rep. Shelly Kolba, D-Kenmore.
Editorial: State, local leaders chew on budget, policy needs

Civic Circle, a new nonprofit, invites the public into a discussion of local government needs, taxes and tools.

Douthat: Merger of U.S., Canada may be in interests of both

With an unclear future ahead of it, it has more to gain as part of the U.S. than as its neighbor.

Friedman: Trump’s reckless Greenland comments no joke to Taiwan

The president-elect could be making things difficult for himself in discouraging China’s plans for Taiwan.

Comment: Trust and Carter receive their eulogies

Carter once promised he would never lie. Trump’s second term proves how little such declarations matter.

Comment: Congress cleared way for Trump’s tariffs; in 1977

The final hurdle for Trump’s tariff whims hangs on how the Supreme Court rules on two cases.

toon
Editorial: News media must brave chill that some threaten

And readers should stand against moves by media owners and editors to placate President-elect Trump.

FILE - The afternoon sun illuminates the Legislative Building, left, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., Oct. 9, 2018. Three conservative-backed initiatives that would give police greater ability to pursue people in vehicles, declare a series of rights for parents of public-school students and bar an income tax were approved by the Washington state Legislature on Monday, March 4, 2024.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Editorial: Legislation that deserves another look in Olympia

Along with resolving budgets, state lawmakers should reconsider bills that warrant further review.

Comment: Quick action on Trump’s ‘one big’ bill faces headwinds

Even if split in two, enough opposition divides even Republicans on tax cuts, the debt ceiling and more.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Monday, Jan. 13

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Comment: Blaming everything but climate change for wildfires

To listen to Trump and others, the disasters’ fault lies with a smelt, DEI and government space lasers.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.