There he goes again. Political columnist Bob Roegner works hard to make something out of nothing, while also trying to incite dissension.

It starts with the heading on the front page of The Mirror (which is clearly anti-mayor): “Roegner: Mayor refuses to challenge council.” Oh really? Just how did he “refuse?” What should he challenge them about? Should he make up something just for the sake of it?

Roegner seems to have a “control issue.” He suggests some current council members are reluctant to implement things that would “reduce their power.” Has anyone heard them gloat about their “power?”

He refers longingly to the “bully pulpit” of the mayor’s office to get things done. The need for “power” and “bully pulpits” is all in Roegner’s mind. Maybe that’s how Mr. Roegner “ruled” when he was mayor of Auburn. How did that work out? Federal Way doesn’t need “bullies.” What Mr. Roegner really wants is a dictator-mayor. Someone who will rule with an iron fist. He wants someone who will come in and fire all department heads, whether they needed it or not.

Roegner laments that since Mayor Skip Priest started, “only one department head has left.” Could it be that the rest are doing a good job and there is no need for them to leave or be fired? Could it be that replacing all the department heads without thinking just to have an ego trip would destabilize the city?

It galls Roegner that the mayor wants to work with the council for the benefit of the city, rather than stumble around slashing and bashing, trumpeting his superiority. Maybe for you, Mr. Roegner, but not for a reasonable man.

“Agree” is not a dirty word. Sometimes it’s a petty thing that upsets Roegner. He would have “The Mayor” sign all proclamations (after all, he is king) rather than share signatures with the council. Frankly, when volunteers and staff at my agency received a city proclamation, it meant so much more to see not only the mayor’s signature, but those of all the council members.

Roegner says: “The mayor and council haven’t been charged with getting along with each other. They have been charged with implementing a new form of government.” It’s like Roegner can’t separate the two. What does “getting along with each other” have to do with implementing a new form of government?

For him, a new form of government means someone wins and someone loses. It’s the people of Federal Way who would lose if Roegner had his way. Get over it, Mr. Roegner. Federal Way has a strong and reasonable mayor.

Linda Purlee, Federal Way