You would have to have been living on the moon with no communication whatsoever to not know the United States presidential election has been a bit contentious this time around. There are a lot of things that the Right and the Left cannot agree on in this country, but I think we can all agree that the election rhetoric has been toxic during this cycle.

And while the national campaigns throw verbal garbage at one another, the local races have been relatively low key.

There aren’t any city council races this year in Kirkland, but most of the time, candidates at the city level stay away from really incendiary language as we are seeing at the national level this year.

But not all Kirkland residents show respect for those who serve our city, and it is wrong. I was stunned when I heard that Kirkland Mayor Amy Walen found a dismembered animal on her mailbox. There is no concrete evidence that this was politically motivated, but for the life of me, I can’t remember ever doing or seeing a story in any city I have covered where someone found a mutilated animal on their mailbox. I am sure it happens, but not very often. And for it to happen to the mayor is suspect to say the least.

It would not be so suspicious if some residents in Kirkland had a better track record for how they treat our elected officials.

Now, our officials are adults and they can handle themselves and they certainly don’t need the local newspaper editor to defend them. But in this case, I will. It is appaling some of the stories I have heard about elected officials being yelled at in the grocery store or out with their family in the city they serve. Kirkland residents are better than that.

I don’t agree with everything the Kirkland City Council does, and I am betting you don’t either. We all have a different point of view on the different issues facing the city. I know for a fact that the vast majority of people in Kirkland are respectful, but some are not, and it needs to stop.

The people who run for council are taking time of out their lives to help the city run and be represented. They do need your feedback – but in a respectful manner.

Honestly, I get tired of people complaining about the city but when council elections come along many of the seats are run unopposed. The way to change what you don’t like is to get involved, not to berate or try to intimidate people who may have differing views and are just trying to do their best for the city according to their beliefs.

Councilmembers earn a monthly salary of $1,144, with the mayor making slightly more at $1,457. Being an effective councilmember is a tough job. It takes a lot of time and most have full-time day jobs as well.

We all get upset from time-to-time at what our elected officials decide. It’s a democracy and we’re not always going to agree. There are avenues to having your voice heard in a respectful manner. Go speak at a council meeting during the public comment portion. Write a respectful email or make a phone call.

But think about how you would want to be treated if you were in their position. If we had more of that at the national level, I think we would all be more excited about Nov. 8.

Matt Phelps is the regional editor for the Kirkland and Bothell/Kenmore Reporter newspapers.