Election is critical to Mercer Island’s future

The 2007 election season has become too long, but the topics remain crucial and complex. Even though we may already be weary from the presidential races, we must turn our attention to the political campaigns in our own backyard. Nothing less that the future character and perhaps the culture of Mercer Island is at stake. In the next few years, continuing Town Center development and changes to Interstate 90 will irrevocably shape the Island and its people for decades to come. And at the center of this will be our seven-member Mercer Island City Council.

November 24, 2008 10:08 pm

The 2007 election season has become too long, but the topics remain crucial and complex. Even though we may already be weary from the presidential races, we must turn our attention to the political campaigns in our own backyard. Nothing less that the future character and perhaps the culture of Mercer Island is at stake. In the next few years, continuing Town Center development and changes to Interstate 90 will irrevocably shape the Island and its people for decades to come. And at the center of this will be our seven-member Mercer Island City Council.

The Reporter, along with other community organizations are taking a close look at candidates for Mercer Island City Council. And for now, we’re turning our attention to the four candidates who are running for the privilege of appearing on the November ballot for City Council Pos. 3. The candidates are Bob Bersos, Mike Cero, Jon Friedman and Maureen Judge. The primary election is early this year; it officially takes place Aug. 21, yet absentee ballots are scheduled to be mailed this Friday, Aug. 3. Ballots could reach Island mailboxes as soon as Saturday or Monday. As a result, the Reporter Editorial Board is in the process of interviewing those candidates. We will publish summaries of those interviews in the Aug. 8. issue of the Reporter and offer our recommendations for two of those candidates to continue to the general election in November. In October, the Reporter will repeat the process with all candidates who are on that ballot. Any appearance of possible write-in candidates will be duly noted.

The role of a newspaper in reviewing and endorsing candidates for election is an important one. It implies a great deal of responsibility — both to readers and the voters — but also to the community members who are running for public office.

We also know that Islanders, famous for critical and independent thinking, will ultimately make up their own minds.

If nothing else — we hope to encourage all voters to vote in the primary as well as the general election. If we do just that, our efforts will be successful.