To my fellow Redmond residents, small business owners and friends, I’ve been a resident and community supporter within the Redmond area for more than 13 years. I’m urging every eligible voter to cast your vote this election season and to re-elect Mayor John Marchione.
Eight years ago, Redmond was stuck in a no-growth mindset coming off an economic boom and soon to enter dark times with the great recession. Thanks to Mayor Marchione’s well-documented vision and leadership, Redmond has retained its small-community character, built a leaner and financially stable government and positioned itself as a small global dynamo making the news as a top place to live and work.
I understand his opponent Steve Fields is a nice guy, and that’s great. But a candidate for Redmond’s mayor should have at least proven himself and learned how to get things done by serving on or leading a Redmond area planning group or task force. Where’s his Redmond experience and how vested and connected in our community can he be? His history in finance and bureaucracy in county government raises more concerns than answers. Why would he reference UN guidelines and creating more bureaucracy in a recent interview (link here for reference: http://tinyurl.com/nqe99l3). No thank you, Steve! Instead of specific proposals from Steve, you’ll see lots of problem spotting. That’s the sign of someone without the necessary experience and who’s unprepared to lead Redmond.
Why do I support Mayor John Marchione and why would I recommend you vote for him? I recently met John because he cares enough to actually get out and meet us downtown business owners, engage in a dialogue and have a constructive debate of issues. He earned my respect there and I got to know him and hear his story of community service and growth in leadership. I think he’s a great person who connects well with people and he’s deeply invested in our community. But that’s not enough. To get my political support, I need to be convinced by the facts and what I can experience around me. Redmond’s not perfect and Mayor Marchione would be the first to admit that there’s always room for improvement. Under John’s vision and leadership, you and I can set foot in refreshed parks, our public safety is improved, our transportation needs (520, downtown, rail, bike) are being worked, our environment is improved and our development is pacing with the growth that the broader economy demands. Redmond is financially sound, going in the right direction and it looks, feels, sounds, smells and tastes better than ever!
Let’s vote Mayor John Marchione back in office. Eight years ago, he promised a vision, and in the eight years since, he’s delivered results. He deserves your vote for four more years to lead us through times ahead. Please get out and vote on election day for Mayor Marchione!
JD Klein
Minuteman Press of Redmond
