Maloney can help bring jobs to Federal Way | Election letters

Published 12:41 pm Friday, October 4, 2013

I’m writing to support Kelly Maloney for Federal Way City Council position 2.

I’ve known Kelly for 10 years. We’ve served on volunteer committees together. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to see how her clear thinking has benefitted the community. There is no better example of this than her job creation initiative that will bring higher education to Federal Way.

Kelly’s premise is that bringing branch campuses of research universities to Federal Way will lead to the creation of high-tech jobs. This idea is supported by recent research from Cal Berkeley economist Enrico Moretti, as detailed in his highly acclaimed book “The New Geography of Jobs.” Moretti makes the case that for every high-tech job created, up to five additional jobs are created in the community.

Higher education is the well from which high-tech creativity springs. Combined with the fact that Federal Way is just downstream from Seattle and Redmond, two of the best-known high-tech capitals in the world, we are presented with a plausible case that Kelly’s plan can bring new jobs to our city.

Will Kelly’s vision transform Federal Way? Will it create a river of new jobs? That remains to be seen. However, when choosing who to vote for, I urge you to select the candidate who has something meaningful to say. One who has a plan for the future. A plan that will bring much needed jobs to Federal Way. I urge you to vote for Kelly Maloney for Federal Way City Council position 2!

Ed Streit, Kent