My wife and I had a cup of coffee recently with mayoral candidate Steve Fields at his Down Pour Coffee Bar in west Redmond. Steve is a very engaging leader who has immense pride in our community. He has fire in his belly for including Redmond residents in the growth process of Redmond…a process we have been left out of under the Mayor John Marchione’s administration.

Steve has been attending various government meetings to get up to speed on Redmond government with particular interest in the Council Parks Committee when they were discussing the need for a new Redmond aquatics center. He is not so sure Redmondites really need an elaborate aquatics center and thinks rebuilding Hartman Pool is a better solution than shoe-horning massive recreational centers into expensive property.

Steve didn’t understand why 166th Avenue Northeast had to be reconfigured with islands in the middle of the road and considers it actually less safe. Steve thinks the city should revisit the Comprehensive Plan and find ways to mitigate the traffic in Redmond. He doesn’t see why the propositions are needed to raise taxes this August — that the government should be able to live within its means. Steve appears to be a very refreshing leader for our city and its residents — with vision — a dedicated small businessman, active in community recreation and a family man. I left Steve inspired with a new hope for our fair city.

Bob Yoder, Redmond