After working so hard these past couple of years, so that the voters of Federal Way could actually elect their mayor, I have stood back and watched the process unfold. And now I have to weigh in.

It’s very simple. Everything we have worked for would be for nothing if Skip Priest becomes our mayor. Think about it. How tragic it would be to have the man who opposed the elected mayor initiative from the beginning now reap the rewards of our victory. That’s not what leadership is all about. Leadership is taking a stand on issues that affect the people — when others simply vote to keep things the way they are. Jim Ferrell has shown us that he will take a stand. He has shown us that he is a man of the people.

Skip Priest has not earned my vote. Jim Ferrell has. I hope he has earned yours.

Roy Parke, Federal Way