Say no to a strong mayor | Federal Way letters

Published 1:15 pm Friday, September 4, 2009

Of the 18 cities incorporated in the state of Washington since 1966, 17 have chosen a council/manager form of government. This should make it clear to everyone, even to Jim Ferrell and his ACT group, that for almost a half century, communities like ourselves have run away from the strong mayor form of government and not toward it.

Washington State Law (RCW 35A.12.100) states that a strong mayor will be the chief executive and administrative officer for the city. Along with controlling the making of city policy, he or she will also have control of how it is administered. That means one person will have the power to run our city and define its future.

It is abundantly clear from their rhetoric that city councilman Ferrell and his ACT group want the power of a strong mayor’s office for themselves. We as a community should not give it to them. Please join me in voting “no” one more time.

Bob Kellogg, Federal Way