It has been my privilege to represent and serve you for the past eight years as a City Council member.

I thank my campaign helpers, endorsers, contributors, and the thousands of island voters who offered me your support and confidence for another term.

Together many of us worked hard to achieve the change of government. This campaign was about who would best help build that new government.

It was my hope that I would be able to continue working with you all to complete the changes we initiated last May, and put the needed structures in place to secure a responsive and accountable small town, community-led government.

Even though the close results of my race will not allow me to continue with you in this effort, I know it will happen.

I have every confidence in our 2010 City Council’s ability to bring us an effective and efficient city government that works for us all. The first elected City Council of our new form of government will have new authority to work directly with an apolitical city manager to make all their decisions in a cooperative, public forum.

They will need our help to succeed. This form of government is founded on the principle of community participation.

I would like to ask you to join me to commit support for our new City Council, by offering them your cooperation and guidance.

They cannot be a success without you. Their success is our community’s success.

Debbie Vancil

Bainbridge Island City Council