Scales, DuMont offer balance | Letters | Oct. 23

Published 11:48 am Friday, October 23, 2009

I have lived on Bainbridge for nearly 17 years and am concerned about the upcoming City Council election. Would someone please tell me why a city of 23,000 people would consider electing two members of the same family to a seven-member council?

Why do the two related candidates (Debbie Vancil and Debbi Lester) continue to dodge the question of why it would or would not be a good idea to put them on the council together?

Do they honestly think by not discussing this issue publicly that most people won’t even know that they are related?

When asked directly at recent candidate forums if their family tie would create a conflict-of-interest, or if personalities or a block vote (reinforced by the fact that one is the mother and the other the wife of lawyer, Ryan Vancil, who is the Parks District attorney and active in many community issues, including the city-funded Trust for Working Landscapes), both candidates evaded the questions as if they are truly non-issues.

To me, this is a prime example of “political nepotism” on a local level. This issue needs to be addressed openly in public forums and not hidden under the proverbial rug of small island “neighbor-like politics.”

I’ll be casting my vote for Bob Scales and Dee DuMont because I believe both are well prepared on the issues facing our city.

Both candidates answer questions directly, honestly and openly; their responses to questions seem less political in tone and more like competent citizens without an agenda. We need council members who have a vested, unbiased interest to serve our city in its time of crisis.

While I value the contributions both Debbie and Debbi have contributed to our city, I’m voting for change and fresh, level-headed, balanced voices to represent me: Bob and Dee.

Elina Yeager

Bainbridge Island