I have lived in Federal Way longer than most. Since 1947! And not that it should matter, but my home is at the core of the issue many concerned citizens have with the city. Well, it was made very clear to me what this city has become when, before a city council meeting, I was told by a council member that she couldn’t talk to me.

It is time for the citizens to recognize the importance of having an elected mayor. The history of Federal Way shows very clearly that the manager-council form of government simply does not provide the representation we need. A mayor is a leader, an ambassador away from home — and a coordinator between the city and its citizens at home. We have a president at the federal level and a governor at the state level. It should be obvious to all that we need a mayor.

I have personally lost property due to city decisions I simply could not fight. How does one present an adequate and effective presentation in three minutes? How are we expected to be able to compete with the resources of the city council? They serve as both judge and jury on the decisions made within this city. The council-manager system serves and benefits only the system — not the people.

When it became time for incorporation, it was done with some measure of trial and error about urbanization. Building was done sometimes at the expense of residential and community values. I agreed that there should be a balance of both, but my land became tangled in the crossfire of unregulated pollution flowing through my commercial property, destroying the East Hylebos salmon run, and now destroying my residential retention pond protecting the West Hylebos Park. I lost my commercial property because I didn’t have anyone to protect me from corruption and those who gained from my misfortune. And now, my residential property is at risk because a retention pond was placed at the wrong location — and no one wants to admit it.

I would have given up all hope if it hadn’t been for the president of Accountability Comes to Town (ACT), who understood what I had been going through. He has supported me and fought for me. He is fighting for all the citizens, if they could just recognize it.

King County is a large county, with 31 cities. The largest and the smallest have mayors. The majority of those in between, including our neighbors Des Moines, Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tacoma — have mayors. When will Federal Way finally catch up?

Patricia J. H. Owen, Federal Way