Council needs to focus on important issues
CHARLEY STOKES; Puyallup
Re: “Hansen wins split vote from Puyallup council” (TNT, 1-12).
Kudos to Mayor Don Malloy and the Puyallup City Council on filling the empty District II council seat with open and comprehensive debate. It was obvious to all who witnessed the proceedings that the decision was not easy.
There were several highly qualified candidates, and all the candidates expressed a sincere desire to give back to their community; they all deserve a resounding “thank you” for stepping forward. However, in response to a very unusual set of circumstances, I believe the final decision to appoint Rick Hansen reflects the best interpretation of the November election results.
Now it is critical that all seven council members set aside any acrimony that may have arisen during the debates and come together. The council must focus undistracted on critical issues, such as finding a permanent city manager and prioritizing how to best respond to a failing infrastructure and the demands of a growing population.
