Mr. Federal Way is far more entertaining than I am. But here are some of the questions I get.

Q. You have raised questions about whether or not the Performing Arts and Event Center will be an economic stimulus. What do think the city should have done to stimulate economic development downtown?

A. The quickest way to both stimulate and invest in downtown would have been to sell the current City Hall building and move City Hall, the courts and police department downtown near the current parking garage. That would give you an immediate infusion of over 400 city employees who would work, shop and eat downtown.

Add in the citizens who visit City Hall everyday. Then increase your shopping options with infill development that emphasizes small interesting shops. A passive park would help the new layout become a true city center. It would also cut down on fuel consumption. A circulator shuttle bus could run shoppers between the different shopping areas that would reduce the need for an overpass.

With the police station in close proximity, the city could close the police precinct. Next, build a Senior Center and partner with a private sector company to develop something similar to Kent Station. Done correctly, Pete von Reichbauer Way becomes your new center of town and perfect for parades and celebrations. The Performing Arts and Event Center could then be considered.

Q. Why is Mr. Federal Way picking on Mayor Jim Ferrell about using his city car to stop at Fred Meyer on his way home?

A. Lighten up on Mr. Federal Way. He did the mayor a favor. If the Mirror hadn’t provided the mayor a place to let the public know what the rules of use on his city car were, anyone who saw him using a city car that said “for official use only” parked at Fred Meyer would be mad at him, and think he was cheating. But by a citizen raising the question, the mayor was able to set the record straight and help the public understand. Because it is very likely there were many more people who saw his car than the one who contacted Mr. Federal Way. The paper did the mayor a big favor.

Q. Isn’t the fact that the mayor changed his mind about the Performing Arts and Event Center old news?

A. No. He spent several years cultivating the anti-event center image and defeated former Mayor Skip Priest in large part on that position, along with his support for a public vote. He now has adopted a new position and will have to stand for election in 2017 on that position. Accountability counts. After that, then it becomes old news.

Q. Why do you think Ferrell didn’t give the council a resolution asking for a public vote on the event center? What would they have done?

A. Ferrell knew if he gave the council a resolution asking for the event center to be placed on the ballot for a public vote, the council would have voted it down.

Ferrell didn’t want to start his term as mayor by losing a vote to the council. However, what he failed to consider, if the council had turned it down Ferrell would have kept his word to the public, and he could have then done what he is doing now. He could have maintained his campaign position and his integrity, and still built the building. And he would have won both sides.

In this way, one side will never believe him again and the other side still isn’t all that sure about him. However, the reason the council would have turned down a public vote at that time is the public would have voted “no” on building the event center. A majority of the council wanted to build it. So far there have not been any repercussions.

Q. You have been critical of City Hall and some of our leaders for being bullies. What do you mean by that?

A. Using your position to belittle or attempt to intimidate your citizens. The most recent example was a statement the mayor made after two residents, Matthew Jarvis and Byron Hiller, filed an initiative to try and control city spending on the event center. Ferrell disagreed with some of their comments. Rather than respect the right of citizens to disagree or even have contrary position, the mayor allowed himself to get into a situation where he was calling one of his citizens a liar.

Then he made it worse by comparing the citizen to a law breaker. Regarding their disagreement, the mayor said, “These are facts and facts matter. As a prosecutor for 19 years, I put people in prison based on facts.”

The disputed facts are less important than how the mayor addresses one of his citizens. Our right to free speech should be respected not ridiculed. Remember the quote, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Ferrell knew the initiative wouldn’t pass legal scrutiny with the city attorney. Respect your citizens’ rights to speak openly, even when you disagree with them.

Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn: bjroegner@comcast.net.