It’s that time of year when it’s educational to review some of the more interesting comments from the first six months of the year.
Mayor Jim Ferrell’s tendency toward hyperbole got the better of him at the Seahawks rally in January when he announced that a crowd of 1,200 had turned out, representing 10 percent of the city’s population! The city’s population is 92,000 not 120,000, but we’ll get there.
As Senate Minority leader, Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, spent the last several years doing everything possible to stall the Senate Democrats’ agenda.
However, after the Democrats blocked a hearing on the Keystone Pipeline on the first day of the new session, McConnell, as the new majority leader said in an ironic plea, “We all know that one of the things the Senate is best at doing is not very much, why don’t we get started?” Enjoying the “get even” moment, Democrats refused to drop their opposition.
At Federal Way’s mayor-council retreat earlier this year, Councilwoman Kelly Maloney spilled hot water on her wrist and hand. I tried to help.
One of the department heads in reaction to my occasional barbs at council members commented, “Burned by Roegner again!” Even I enjoyed that one.
On the other hand, city Chief of Staff Brian Wilson wasn’t taking any chances when I bought a cake at the Rotary gala for the table and offered a piece to him and his wife. He seemed to prefer she taste the gift dessert first. Cops are always so suspicious.
University of Washington President Michael Young announced he was leaving to take over as president of Texas A&M, in part because of their commitment to financial support for the institution’s academics.
However, Young may find some things in Texas are different than he thinks.
As one trustee said in answer to a question on Young’s new salary: “He won’t make as much as a good assistant football coach, but he’ll do alright. Welcome to the priorities of the Republic of Texas President Young!”
Under the category of “did he really say that?” Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker recently compared his winning a recall election against public employees, including teachers, to battling terrorists. Walker is a potential candidate for president as a Republican. If that’s his view of teachers, his education policy must be really something!
Finland has a unique approach to speeding tickets. The richer you are, the more you pay when you break the law. One wealthy business man caught going 64 mph in a 50 mph area recently paid $58,000 for his ticket. Since our state says it needs money, is it too late to get one of our legislators to try that one in Olympia?
Up in Oak Harbor it has been a turbulent four years for Mayor Scott Dudley, who isn’t running again. The council has been complaining that lately he is not involved and is missing work. Dudley says he is having problems with his back.
“I’m out on medical leave, but that shouldn’t bother the council, they’ve never listened to me anyway.”
The manner in which City Hall demonstrates tribute to its citizens is frequently measured by the honors they bestow. King County Councilman Pete von Reichbauer had a street named after him. Former Federal Way Mayor Mary Gates was presented the Key to The City. Your favorite political writer was invited to sit in the dunk tank at Federal Way’s 25th anniversary of cityhood celebration. Ah …
At a recent City Council meeting, a staff member was highlighting the events for the city’s 25th anniversary celebration and noted that after the naming of a street for von Reichbauer, the Symphony would play music. An audience member wondered out loud, “What kind of music do you play for the Godfather of Federal Way politics?”
The best commercial I’ve seen so far is “Come for the marijuana, stay because you can’t find your car.” It’s for a car company, but what a great slogan to attract tourists!
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn: bjroegner@comcast.net.
