Klein for Snohomish County Council | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Not long ago, Americans were told that Detroit, one of America’s largest cities, filed for Bankruptcy. But, wait, since then, Washington D.C., Camden, N.J., Cincinnati, Ohio, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Calif. and Baltimore, Md., are all facing similar fates. Can it happen in Snohomish County? Most would say, “No way!” But, I would caution you that the 1,000,000 people who once lived in Detroit and fled probably said the same thing. So, what does this have to do with a County Council race in Snohomish County? It has everything to do with it.

October 28, 2013 4:21 pm

Not long ago, Americans were told that Detroit, one of America’s largest cities, filed for Bankruptcy.  But, wait, since then, Washington D.C., Camden, N.J., Cincinnati, Ohio, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Calif. and Baltimore, Md., are all facing similar fates.  Can it happen in Snohomish County?  Most would say, “No way!”  But, I would caution you that the 1,000,000 people who once lived in Detroit and fled probably said the same thing.  So, what does this have to do with a County Council race in Snohomish County?  It has everything to do with it.

While the opposing candidate has experience in government resource and water management there is only one candidate who has the financial expertise to help Snohomish County thrive and not follow in the footsteps of Detroit and other American cities who are near bankruptcy.  Those cities are not in severe financial straits because of their “water management” services or because they were trying to restore some animal habitat, they are there because of poor financial accountability. The County already employs many professionals with years of public experience in a variety of areas to do the research and studies necessary to inform the Executive and the Council.   The Council oversees these projects and funding streams which make Snohomish County a truly viable community both commercially and socially.

Ken Klein has a solid background in accounting and finance both in education and employment which will help the County make wise and prudent financial decisions with the taxpayer’s money.  Whether that money comes from the county, state or federal government, it is all taxpayer money.  The Council’s real job is to oversee the County’s finances as carefully and responsibly as possible to meet the greatest number of needs of the citizens within its financial means.

Ken only recently began his public service with his election to the Arlington City Council, so his previous experience  in the private rather than public sector will bring a fresh, fiscally responsible, differing point of view to the Council.  Please vote to elect Ken Klein to the County Council!

Catherine Paxton

Arlington