I look at Steve Fields’ experience with local government — outside of Redmond politics — as a refreshing change of leadership. Eight years of Mayor John Marchione is enough for me — though he is a good administrator. The Deputy City Administrator Jane Christenson has been around for years and can more than handle the operations of the city. She is a good administrator. We need a new, strong leader. Marchione’s commission jobs are all filled by “yes men.” We need a change in local government and Fields’ expertise with the City of Seattle and King County government is a solid foundation for his mayoral role in Redmond. He will bring a fresh perspective!

A local citizen wrote the following in a Facebook forum on how Redmond politics works: “I have had enough contact with Redmond over my 25 years here to know how things work at the BorgHive at city hall. First, you can’t get in the door for any commission or related function unless you’ve been vetted as being like minded. Then, they hand pick all council members from their commissions, once they are certain those chosen are going to behave. Then they back you, and that seems to seal the elections. I’ve seen some very well qualified people fail to get elected with an outsider reformer mentality. This is going to be a very hard cartel to break up. It will start with the mayor.”

Tell your friends and neighbors to vote for Steve Fields.

Bob Yoder

Redmond