Kirkland needs people like Gardiner from newly annexed areas on council | LETTER

As a resident of the newly annexed area to Kirkland, I find the letter from M. Donald and Merrily Dicks interesting.

According to them, Jason Gardiner should not run for Kirkland City Council because he is inexperienced.

One fact they omit is that residents of the annexation area were prohibited from volunteering for many Kirkland boards and commissions or running for city council. Why? Because we weren’t citizens.

Jason does have experience. He has experience at Oracle integrating newly acquired companies, with diverse cultures, to successfully function in one newly-integrated technology company. This is the exact experience that Kirkland will need on the council.

He also has the experience of living in the largest area ever annexed by the City of Kirkland.

We are being asked to “trust” you, “old Kirkland,” to know our needs and concerns.

We asked for police presence, but what we received was not what we thought we would receive. No education or introduction, just punitive actions.

I would rather follow the advice of former Kirkland Mayor and current state Rep. Deb Eddie of the 48th District: " … It’s critically important to bring people from the newly annexed areas onto the council …"

I also know Don and Merrily that in the last election you had no qualms about supporting candidates who had little or no previous experience in being on boards or commissions before running for council.

So apparently your concern about “on the job training” is because Jason is from the annexation area and “only recently became a citizen of Kirkland.”

Jody McCrain, Kirkland

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