I’m Roy Parke, the person who fought so long and hard to get an elected mayor in Federal Way.

I did this because I saw a city that was not responsive to the people. Now I’m wondering if the voters really get it. This election means so much to this city. We have two options: stagnate or move forward.

Keep the old ideas that put us where we are, or implement the new ideas. The Mirror has already given you its endorsement for mayor — Jim Ferrell. But I worry about apathy. Apathy and a low voter turnout is what Skip Priest is counting on.

I think back to when I was just starting the process of gathering signatures for the elected mayor initiative. Six of the seven Federal Way City Council members wanted to keep the ineffective council-manager form of city government.

Only one person had the courage to buck the trend of failed leadership. Only Jim Ferrell had the courage to stand alone and fight for the best interests of the people of Federal Way. That’s a true leader. By the way, Ferrell also led the effort to bring us elected judges, a positive change from the old appointed judge system.

I think back to a conversation I once had with Skip, when he told me he was against the elected mayor initiative. Well, he sure took advantage of it, didn’t he?

Speaking of taking advantage, I hope you’ve noticed how Skip tends to take credit for things, regardless of whether he had anything to do with them. A glaring example of this occurred during the recent mayoral debate, when Priest inaccurately took credit for a Sound Transit-related issue. Fortunately, Ferrell called him on it, and The Mirror later confirmed the inaccuracy. Skip will say in one speech that he didn’t vote for Celebration Park — and then brag about its creation in the next.

And since so many seem to have forgotten, Mayor Priest has been investigated twice this year, both times for issues that call into question his character.

Voters, nothing fundamentally has changed since Skip Priest took office. Well, you can help get this city moving in the right direction — with your vote. Please make that vote count. Please vote for Jim Ferrell.

Roy Parke, Federal Way