Ballots hit mailboxes last week, and political debate has reached a new level of intensity throughout the community and on the popular community forum, Nextdoor, especially about who will win the open seats on Mercer Island’s City Council.
In the past year since My MI launched, I’ve attended or watched online more City Council meetings than I ever imagined in order to better understand what is happening on Mercer Island – what people are saying and what decisions our City Council members are making.
These voices and decisions have shaped the interesting stories and developments around Mercer Island – and a lot of exciting things are happening or possibly happening in our community. We are getting a new grocery store! We are getting a Pagliacci’s! We are NOT getting a new mixed-use development in the heart of Town Center! We MIGHT be getting a new center for the arts!
These stories continue to unfold, and we can all make an impact on how they unfold – by voting. So I have a simple request – please vote! Mail in your ballot by November 3rd.
If you’ve decided to vote, but you don’t know who to vote for, then here are some letters to the editor from your Mercer Island neighbors endorsing their chosen candidates:
Mercer Island Reporter – Letters to the Editor
Drinkwater Knows Our Community – Karin Davies, Dr. Kristina Crothers, Carina Evens, Dr. Katharine Lamperti, Kathryn Lerner, Becky Showalter, Yvonne Willard, Nicki Winder
Vote for what’s best for Mercer Island’s future – Robert W. Thorpe
Challengers will bring a fresh look to issues – Charles and Karen Neff
Bassett provides great leadership – Sue Bennett
Challengers will put Islanders first – Steve Hearon
Brahm concerned about growth – Sally and Larry Brown
Challengers will bring new perspectives – Kevin Scheid
Bassett supports environment – Nancy Lee
Give new voices a chance on council – Beatrice Rauch
Bertlin committed to all Islanders – Toby Suhm
Granbois will listen to citizens – Al Lippert
Bassett has grasp of issues – Bruce Schatzman
Incumbents running scared – Gary Robinson
Bassett knows Islanders’ needs – Joe Petrucci
Leaders have made Island better – Stephen Smith
Don’t shoot the messenger – Ross Lehman
Bertlin focuses on critical issues – Alan Merkle
MIHS alumni support Granbois – Michelle (Wiseman) Munoz
Bertlin thoughtful, objective, outgoing – Bart Dawson
Bassett has integrity, intelligence – Myra Lupton
Drinkwater has skills for school board – Charles S. Cobbs, M.D.
Granbois using scare tactics on budget – Carole Branom
‘Peculiar decisions’ made by our local government – David L. Dunner, MD
Looking for more information?
You can also learn more about the candidates by reading their personal statements, originally published on the King County Elections website, or by attending an upcoming candidates forum.