Priest for first elected mayor | Federal Way letters

Published 10:53 am Friday, October 15, 2010

In the recent Chamber of Commerce debate, mayoral candidate Jim Ferrell stated that, in spite of the fact that building a $350 million building in our Federal Way’s downtown core would create both construction and community jobs, create new opportunities for present and future small businesses, and most importantly to all of us, could create new revenue through resulting sales taxes that help to pay for our city’s services, he instead prefers to build a park.

What he is saying to me, at least, is that at a time when our city must consider reducing services and cutting staff because of a budget shortfall of $9 million, his solution would be to spend money to create a 4.5-acre public plaza, the cost of which would only exacerbate our city’s financial woes. This type of thinking will inevitably lead to increased property taxes for both business and residential property owners.

My wife and I have lived in this community for 28 years and love living here. But like many other senior citizens, we are concerned that our Social Security income has not gone up and will not get a COLA increase next year. There are many other citizens who struggle today to stay in their homes within our community because they have lost their jobs, or are now living on a reduced income. It is my belief that none of us can afford to have Jim Ferrell as our first elected mayor.

State Rep. Skip Priest not only is known for his community leadership, but for his regional and statewide leadership as well. His business experience includes having been an executive for Burlington Northern Railroad and American Express and he has run his own business. With all this experience he is the very best candidate for becoming our city’s first elected mayor.

Please vote for Skip Priest.

Bob Kellogg, Federal Way