Mulhern is a wise choice for council | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 10:37 am Monday, November 2, 2015

To the editor:

I have been a closer observer of city council since I stopped commuting seven years ago. What I have learned is that serving on city council is a very demanding, low wage job requiring many hours of work and an ability to translate one’s values into good policy for the city. Not everyone is suited to this job.

I am voting for Pegeen Mulhern this fall, because I think she’s well trained, experienced in the kind of thinking required of the council to tackle its tasks, and because she shares my values.

I agree with many writers that think Ron Peltier is a good guy, smart, who cares deeply about our community. When I have watched Ron and Pegeen, or read the transcripts of their remarks at city council, comprehensive plan and planning commission meetings, I am more impressed with the way in which Pegeen handles the discussions of sustainability and planning. I find myself troubled by Ron’s recurring accusations that the “city” is pro-development and growth.

In my tenure here, what I have witnessed is that the pressures for growth are immense — the price of housing in Seattle, the attractive character of the island and soon there will be the pressure of climate refugees from other parts of the region. We can’t just say, “You can’t move here” and expect landowners to resist the pressures to sell, or tell current children on the island that they can’t live here when they grow up.

I do want to preserve the island’s character and ensure a sustainable quality of life. I don’t want it to become a place where only wealthy people can afford to live. We can do that best through translating the comprehensive plan into code, planning for diverse housing needs and by ensuring that our utilities, homes and other developments (both current and future) have the least impact on the land and water around us.

I think Pegeen will listen, then work hard, collaboratively and wisely on the significant challenges that face our island community.

GLORIA SAYLER

Bainbridge Island