I must disagree with Mr. Style’s letter regarding Position 5 and “Council Clones.”

Karen Tennyson has not given a blanket “okay” to annexation. In fact, she’s the only candidate who had the courage to come to the public hearing and voice her concern about the stability of continued state funding for the next 10 years, when the state is in financial peril. Now that the decision is out of the Kirkland Council’s hands and up to the PAA (potential annexation area) voters, Karen will work hard to achieve the best possible outcome for all of Kirkland.

Karen’s opinions have never been dependent upon that of the mayor, nor should a blanket label of “clone” be cast upon members of the Planning Commission simply because they are appointed by the council. Karen is an independent thinker who considers all input; her votes as a member of the Planning Commission have, in many instances, been the opposite of the eventual vote by the mayor.

None of the candidates for Position 5 have ruled out tax increases, including Amy Walen – her responses on Kirkland Views regarding utility taxes made it clear that Amy was open to exactly that. In contrast, Karen Tennyson has encouraged citizens not only to be heard at the ballot box, but also to weigh in now, before the council takes its “ballot or no ballot” vote.

Finally, while his letter tells us why he won’t support the other candidates, he really does not speak to anything about Amy Walen except that she is fresh and new. Doesn’t he realize that her key endorsement has come from her strong pro-annexation and pro-utility tax stance? Amy also thinks that we will make up our deficits with sales tax, the most regressive form of tax. What’s next, a B&O tax for businesses?

Amy Walen has barely lived here for one year and she has not served on even one city volunteer board or commission – not in Kirkland or anywhere else. This is dangerous – we need city council members who can hit the ground running and take on the financial challenges. My vote will be for Karen Tennyson. She has the experience, she will respect our neighborhoods, and she is no one’s clone.

Adam White, Kirkland