Cero’s term showed dedication to residents

Through his eight years of service on the City Council, Mike Cero expressed an unwavering belief in government by the people, for the people. Seeing the birth of democracy in action when he was deployed to Iraq was the reason he decided to run for election to local office, he said.

Cero is a proponent of “transparency, using metrics whenever possible often” and lowering taxes. He often found himself as a dissenting vote, but  held a “steadfast articulation of his principles, [giving] voice to the views of many Islanders.”

“I always looked at policies as if it was my neighborhood,” he said, from short platting, to Tent City, to school construction. “I was not in the majority often, but I take consolation in the fact that I was able to move the needle a little bit… A judge of accomplishment isn’t necessarily how many times you win a vote.”

One of his biggest accomplishments was supporting the citizen efforts that led to the defeat of I-90 tolling, he said.

He said one of his regrets is not pushing back hard enough against the growth allocations handed to Mercer Island by way of the state Growth Management Act (GMA). In the past year especially, he has said the city should not allow density to increase in Town Center or in neighborhoods without upgrading infrastructure. He has supported the idea that “growth pays for growth.”

During his term, the Council began televising meetings, completed the sewer lake line project (and saved Islanders $9.5 million in the process, Cero said), passed a $100 million school bond, kept Mary Wayte Pool open, established the emergency well and the Farmers Market, implemented school, parks and transportation impact fees and adopted four biennial budgets.

Cero did not run for re-election, leaving an open seat that will be filled by Wendy Weiker after her successful campaign.

Cero will also be remembered for his staunch support of public safety improvements, and sense of humor.  He said he would shave his head live at a Council meeting if the ambulance transport fee ever sunsets.

“In the face of frequent opposition to his agenda, he exhibited a tremendous capacity to maintain a calm demeanor,” according to the city’s recognition of Cero.

Cero said he is looking forward to spending more time with his family and doing yard work, and continuing his extensive involvement with the Mercer Island Rotary and VFW.

Brahm committed to Island’s past and future

Jane Meyer Brahm said it was never her dream or desire to be on the City Council, but support from the community and a belief in good governance led her to apply for appointment to an open position in 2011.

The city was coming out of the recession in relatively good shape, but Brahm said she knew tough and important decisions would have to be made to prioritize city services. She said she wanted to “listen to the people and make good decisions based on all the facts [she] can gather,” and never had an agenda or burning issue to address; just a lot of knowledge to share.

She moved to Mercer Island in 1976 and covered the Council for years as the editor of the Mercer Island Reporter, an experience fellow council members said “brought a unique understanding of the Island and its residents to Council discussions.”

Brahm brought a historical perspective to Council decisions, and will be remembered for her commitment to Mercer Island’s Sister City, Thonon les Bains, and for her book “Mercer Island History: From Haunted Wilderness to Coveted Community.”

She said she will continue to serve on the board of the Chamber of Commerce, and that one of her proudest accomplishments was partnering with the Chamber to organize Art UnCorked. She was the Council liaison to the Arts Council during her entire Council tenure.

During her term, the Council restricted tobacco use in city parks, hired a new city manager, implemented a plastic bag ban and false alarm code amendments, outlined a community engagement plan for the Town Center visioning process, imposed a moratorium on downtown building permits and helped find new homes for Little Acorn Preschool and Country Village Day School. The last item was “small but very gratifying,” Brahm said.

“It’s one of those loose ends that you don’t think will find a solution, but that works itself out with patience and leadership,” she said, also putting the Island Crest Way road diet, Shoreline Master Program and new south-end Fire Station in that category.

Brahm lost her bid for re-election to Dave Wisenteiner, who, with rest of the new council, has a huge job ahead, Brahm said.

Issues remain with access to transportation, planning in neighborhoods and Town Center and improving communication with residents.

She said the hardest decisions she made were regarding Initiative 594 to expand background checks for firearm sales and transfers, and the Town Center moratorium and exemption for the Hines project.

Her votes for both ended up in the minority, but she said she had to express reservations about the transfer element of the gun control initiative, and the exception for a five-story building from the city’s moratorium while the visioning process was ongoing.

Brahm said she is looking forward to having more time to spend with her family and to travel, beginning with a trip to Spain in the spring.