By a landslide, voters got what they asked for – the possibility of a stable Kirkland City Council to guide the city through the next set of hurdles.
Some debate is healthy on any city council. But when dissension causes dysfunction, disunity and altogether bad vibes, it makes for a frail government. And a bad reputation.
City election results echo a recent plea from a group of 15 former Kirkland mayors and city council members: oust Councilmember Tom Hodgson, they urged citizens. The former city officials said they were disturbed by Hodgson’s “treatment of citizen volunteers” and his “violation of every ethical protocol.”
Other residents have been bothered by other council member’s behavior, including Mayor James Lauinger who withdrew his candidacy this election and Bob Sternoff, who said he will not run again once his term ends in 2011.
Former Redmond Mayor Doreen Marchione won voter’s approval by a large margin, according to a recent King County elections update. Other winners for Kirkland City Council include incumbent Deputy Mayor Joan McBride, and business owners Penny Sweet and Amy Walen.
The “Fab Four,” as citizens have dubbed the winners, will hopefully bring the stability the city needs to face what lies ahead.
On the brink of annexation (as of the Reporter’s deadline Monday), Kirkland could become the 12th largest city in the state with the absorption of more than 33,000 residents. If the annexation measure passes with a 60-percent approval, Kirkland’s new Kingsgate, Finn Hill and North Juanita neighborhoods will rely on the city for a similar level of services King County currently provides the annexation area. This includes public safety services (police, fire and emergency medical and Municipal Court); solid waste and road maintenance services.
The new council should ensure these levels of service are maintained for the new, expanded city.
Faced with a widened $13.1 million budget gap and in light of the utility tax measure voters rejected, the new council will also need to pull together to prioritize budget cuts. On the chopping block: the Park Ranger Program, Summer Concert Series, Neighborhood Matching Grants, Volunteer Firefighter compensation and more.
The new council will also be tasked with finding a new City Manager to replace Dave Ramsay, who is retiring next March after 12 years of service.
But some of challenges the council will need to tackle are not so new, including the timely redevelopment of Park Place and Totem Lake. Councilmember-elect Walen recently said the time is now to revamp Totem Lake and the council shouldn’t wait for the economy to pick up.
The council has its work cut out for them in the months and years ahead. But council members have one thing going for them as they work to repair a broken city – the possibility for cohesion the city has lacked for several years.
