Can our elected officials be trusted? Merriam-Webster defines trust as “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.”

The Federal Way City Council and mayor have shown their lack of understanding of this important word, so let me explain it. When you run for office the public trusts that what you say is what you mean. It does not mean that you say you are against a new utility tax and then vote for the tax. The explanation you gave “there were no other options” does not instill trust as other options were presented by council members and the public.

The mayor agreed to, and even requested, an appointment to discuss an option with Lakehaven to buy the dog park for $2 million giving the council time to study other revenue sources, but changed his mind. So should we trust the mayor will keep his word, and that the council really looked for or listened to other options?

The mayor ran for office stating he was opposed to the Performing Arts and Event Center and favored it once elected, told us it was fully funded, while it is $6 million in debt and that it will provide economic development which we have not seen.

Which can we trust: his word or actions? The mayor may call spending $230,000 on a temporary park an urban legend, but it is a fact. The permanent park was built a year later. The fact is the council and the mayor gave only lip service to the many who spoke against the utility tax just as they did with the building of the PAEC.

Carol Fraley, Federal Way