City needs analytical thinker like Wong

If ever there was a time when Mercer Island needed an experienced, calm, analytical thinker to help figure out how to balance city budgets, that time is now. As the community faces budget deficits, we need a council member who can weigh competing interests to come to the best solutions for the entire community. That person is 33-year resident Benson Wong.

I worked with Benson on the council and on a number of committees over the years and know him to be discerning and thoughtful, a person of integrity who takes the long view and looks at issues holistically. He listens to everyone and considers all sides of an issue. He demonstrated this on various thorny issues in the past; he’s not pushing an agenda, an ideology or a quick fix. He’s not noisy or flashy. He is just the kind of steady, hard-working council member Mercer Island needs. We need to re-elect Benson Wong.

Jane Brahm

Mercer Island

Wong listens, thinks, cares

We are writing this letter on behalf of Benson Wong, who is running for re-election to the Mercer Island City Council. We have known Benson for years, both as a neighbor and one of my law partners at Keller Rohrback. Benson has helped manage the firm for years on the firm Executive Committee. Through countless committee meetings, I have seen the focus Benson has on making prudent, fiscally responsible decisions that are guided by doing the right thing. He is conscientious and caring to a T, and an outstanding lawyer. Benson brings the same focus to his service on the City Council. He listens, he thinks and he cares. As a long-time Mercer Island resident whose kids grew up on the Island, Benson has a deep commitment to the community and the schools, and the future of the Island. The Island no doubt faces a host of financial challenges, and Benson is perfectly suited for handling them. We strongly endorse Benson for the Mercer Island City Council.

Derek Loeser and Katie Van Kessel, MD.

Mercer Island