I have lived here for years and plan to remain for years to come. Like many, I have noticed that Renton is growing rapidly, so I have started to follow some local politics so that I could better understand how my city operates. We cannot afford to get stuck in the gridlock that has slowed national politicians to a standstill, so that’s why I am concerned about the current race for Position No. 6 between Jami Smith and Ruth Perez.

In the past, Renton has prided itself on being led by individuals who could get along with each other and work as a team to make the best decisions for Renton. So when I notice that not only our mayor, but three current City Council members are all endorsing Jami Smith, and not their current colleague Ruth Perez, it makes me wonder what’s going on. Only one current City Council member, Don Persson, has endorsed Ruth Perez.

I know personally, that if only one person I worked with thought I was doing a good job, I’d feel concerned about my job performance. I want to see Renton run by people who can work together, and it seems a little unusual to me that someone would have so few endorsements from the people they have worked with for the last few years. That’s why I’m voting for Jami Smith. I hope others will consider this too, and make sure Renton’s City Council is a team who can answer the difficult questions of this time, rather than getting caught up by someone who doesn’t seem to work well with her colleagues.

Crystal Cooper Siegel

Renton