More letters supporting Mercer Island City Council candidates

Letter writers support Anderl, Rosenbaum, Thompson

Anderl already serves well on City Council

It is more important than ever that we support Lisa Anderl for Mercer Island City Council Position 4. This election will determine our future livability, sustainability, accessibility and tax impact for generations to come.

In her tenure on the council, Lisa has shown that she possesses the specific skills we need now. She clearly understands the significant issues, how our city operates, our financial challenges, and is responsive to the aspirations of our citizens. Lisa comes well-prepared to council meetings, asks the needed hard questions, and speaks for Mercer Island interests first. Lisa carefully listens to broad community input and does not shy away from thoughtfully proposing and then taking critically needed positions, providing clear, unambiguous feedback.

Lisa has been a strong proponent for implementing operational efficiency before asking residents to pay more taxes. She advocates a balanced budget, with resources prioritized to provide the services our community wants and needs.

Lisa prioritizes police and fire services while being a strong supporter of Youth and Family Services, including the funding of youth mental health counselors. Lisa understands the critical safety net these programs and counselors represent and the role they play, keeping our children safe, both in and out of school.

Sound Transit and Metro are currently trying to circumvent the 2017 Settlement Agreement. Mercer Island residents paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to reach that settlement. Lisa has taken a strong stand against the proposed modifications of the settlement agreement, all of which would negatively impact the Island.

Lisa supports permanently protecting our open spaces and parkland so that citizens do not have to continually fear development proposals that risk destroying our precious green space.

Lisa is already serving exceptionally well on our City Council. Let us together send a strong message this November by reaffirming Lisa’s seat on the City Council.

Salim Nice, Mercer Island

I support Thompson for City Council

What I really appreciate about Dan Thompson is that he has been fighting for the defense of all of Mercer Island. He has been volunteering an enormous amount of time for the protection and safety of our neighborhoods as well as our neighborhood values, often against our own city and council and special interests. Dan Thompson, as an attorney, has been volunteering his time to expose and resolve many issues. For example, the garbage contract issue that was found to be undesirable for the residents (as well as CFZ, MICA in Mercerdale Park, the Aubrey Davis Master Plan, bus intercept, tree ordinance, residential code, etc.) and suggests logical safeguards for our island and citizens. He is taking an interest in all the very controversial amendments and contracts that will forever change Mercer Island as we know it. Dan has proved by example and results that he is trying to better our community and I feel he has the right credentials to review and analyze the conditions for Mercer Island. I highly recommend and support Dan Thompson for Mercer Island City Council.

John Hall, Mercer Island

Keep Lisa on the City Council

I’m voting to keep Lisa Anderl on the City Council. She has worked hard this year to understand both the big issues facing Mercer Island as well as how the City operates. She comes to the meetings well-prepared and asks great questions. Most importantly, we know where she stands on tough issues.

As an experienced attorney, I think she brings the necessary skills to some very challenging issues. She’s focused on public safety and on preserving our quality of life. For example, Sound Transit and Metro are currently trying to significantly rewrite the settlement agreement regarding bus traffic, and Lisa has taken a strong stand against any modifications to the agreement which would negatively impact the Island. She has come out and said clearly that if the settlement configuration will not work for Metro, then they should consider a different location for a bus intercept. She is also insisting that ST and Metro be responsible for any resources necessary to ensure that our Island stays as safe as it is now after light rail starts running.

Lisa has shown that she values the character of our single-family residential neighborhoods. She supported the current city manager’s proposal to “hit pause” on the community facilities zone, which was proving to be divisive and unworkable for many groups on the Island.

Lisa is already doing the hard work on City Council. Let’s let her keep working to benefit our community.

John Hall, Mercer Island

Vote for Rosenbaum

I am enthusiastically supporting Dave Rosenbaum for Mercer Island City Council. He has a positive vision for our Island that benefits our diverse community; families with children in the schools, retirees, and active town center residents. Returning to Mercer Island to raise his family is an indication of his commitment to this special place. I think he has the foresight to enhance the unique nature of our community as we prepare to meet the needs and opportunities of the future.

Having worked closely with Mercer Island small businesses for almost 30 years, I know how important it is to have members of the City Council focused on economic development and helping those businesses thrive. Dave spent more than a decade in Congress working on issues such as those facing our local businesses and will use that experience to support and grow the Island business community

His experience and deep roots in the community have prepared him well to serve on the council, and I know he will be an effective leader. I encourage you to vote Dave Rosenbaum for Mercer Island City Council Position 1.

Terry Moreman, Mercer Island

Daniel Thompson is for Mercer Islanders

Daniel Thompson has proven again and again that he truly is for Mercer Islanders. As a City Council member, he will be a tireless advocate for policies that keep our Island a wonderful place to live.

Islanders face many issues today — protecting our parks, preserving the character of our residential neighborhoods, replacing our aging water and sewer lines, limiting the negative impact of Sound Transit and Metro’s bus intercept, and balancing the city’s budget are some of the most urgent ones.

Daniel does the research. He attends meetings of the City Council, city commissions, citizen outreach and focus groups, to learn about the issues and find solutions. He respects others’ opinions and keeps an open mind when considering important decisions that will determine the future of Mercer Island.

A strong supporter of transparency in government, Daniel encourages citizen participation in matters that affect us all. His legal expertise is a plus. When he read the current City Council’s lengthy Recology contract, he discovered the buried “sustainability tax” and the clause that prohibited Recology from disclosing it to consumers. Armed with this knowledge, Islanders protested, the contract was amended, and the first year’s cost increase went from 28% to 8%.

Daniel repeatedly warned City Council against signing off on the shoreline permits Sound Transit needed for light rail before getting a signed agreement protecting our interests. Ignoring his warnings, our council left us without negotiating leverage, resulting in outcomes consistently favorable to ST at our expense.

Daniel is taking campaign donations only from Mercer Islanders. He will continue to fight for what’s best for our Island rather than prioritizing regional interests before our own.

Check out ThompsonforIslanders.com to see all of the reasons you should vote for Daniel Thompson for City Council.

Terry and Morrene Jacobson, Mercer Island