It is a matter of trust when a person is elected to office. From judges, to school board members, to the President of the United States, the public puts their trust in the hands of those chosen to represent them. That trust is what our system of government is based on.

Longtime Kirkland City Councilman Bob Sternoff abruptly resigned from office on Monday with nearly two years left in his term.

In his resignation letter to the city, Sternoff said simply: “Effective this date, I hereby resign my position as a Kirkland City Council member.” The short letter was simple and to the point – but it explained nothing.

It leaves Kirkland residents wondering why.

Don’t Kirkland citizens who elected Sternoff deserve more of a reason? Don’t the people who have supported Sternoff deserve more of a reason? Don’t the people who paid for the election deserve more of an explanation? Any explanation.

Many people in Kirkland gave their time and money to elect and re-elect Sternoff. They have supported him as he has supported them. Don’t they deserve a reason as to why he will not fulfill his duty to the city?

Many people felt betrayed when Sternoff sent inappropriate messages using his city email in 2009. But he never resigned.

He weathered that storm and was cleared of any wrongdoing because the council did not have a code of ethics at the time. He endured Kirkland residents speaking out for weeks during the public comment portion of council meetings calling for his resignation.

But he never resigned.

The email investigation, along with an investigation into another council member, contributed to the council passing a code of ethics in 2012.

He also endured opposition to his re-election in 2011.

Sternoff won his re-election because his supporters stood behind him in the face of adversity. Many of those people supported him because of his tireless work on behalf of the city.

Sternoff has been a fierce advocate for Kirkland and worked hard behind the scenes.

He has served as a city representative as chair of the Suburban Cities Caucus to the Puget Sound Regional Council Growth Management Planning Board. He was also an executive board member of the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) and a board member of the PSRC Transportation 2040 Prioritization Working Group.

He has donated his time and money to city and community events for more than a decade. Several council members have given statements about how much they valued Sternoff’s experience, guidance and advice.

But this is not about what he has done for the city. It is about explaining why he is walking away from his commitment to more than 80,000 people.

The city will now have to find a replacement for Sternoff and that person will be elected, not by the citizens of Kirkland, but by the city council.

Does it matter why Sternoff resigned? Yes. Without a reason or statement, people will speculate. Without a reason, a cloud of suspicion will hover.

The reason why Sternoff resigned has a bearing on how the city moves forward. If it is because of personal financial issues, say that. The public will understand. If it is family reasons, the community will support you.

But leaving it open-ended with a one-sentence resignation leaves the people of Kirkland wondering why now? Why can’t you serve out your term like you did during past opposition?