Ed Hanrahan deserves your vote

This is response to a letter from last week. As a person who has been to many City Council meetings over many years, I have had the chance to meet Ed Hanrahan and observe his opponent. In my opinion Ed Hanrahan will make an excellent Black Diamond City Council member and deserves your vote.

After watching the current mayor inappropriately cut off council members, and pretend her allies don’t need to follow any rules of decorum, I know we don’t need more supporters of the mayor on council. We need Ed Hanrahan.

Ed is an experienced leader who has the ability to instill respect and integrity into situations even where everyone does not agree. His opponent seems to only listen to those who are yelling the loudest.

On the issues, Ed Hanrahan is going to scrutinize all city actions. For example, he will do everything in his power to make sure our taxes don’t subsidize big developers. His opponent wants to be a “yes-person” whose plan, in my opinion, is to get along with the developers at all costs.

Bill McDermand

Black Diamond

Maple Valley City Council favors fire benefit charge

The City of Maple Valley City Council voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 17-1164 to support the Fire Benefit Charge (FBC) ballot measure Proposition 1 for Maple Valley Fire &Life Safety at a Special Council meeting on July 17, 2017. After a public hearing to learn the public’s opposition to and support of the ballot measure, it was agreed public safety is not only a government and fire district obligation, but also every citizen’s responsibility.

Maple Valley Fire &Life Safety is dedicated to serving our citizens and businesses. To fund and maintain fire district operations, it has become necessary for MVF&LS to use its reserves. The FBC is not a tax and is not based on property valuation, but on the cost of providing service. City Council encourages all registered voters to cast their ballots on Aug. 1. Please note the MVF&LS Proposition 1 is on the back side of the ballot.

For more information, please visit the Maple Valley Fire &Life Safety website at https://www.maplevalleyfire.org/maple-valley- fire/fire-benefit- charge/.

Sean P. Kelly

Maple Valley Mayor