Did I really just read that The Mirror endorsed Mark Koppang over Kelly Maloney?

Were they not at the debates? The debates Kelly clearly won?

Here’s where the Mirror failed.

They claim Mark Koppang has a sure-fire way of getting businesses to come to Federal Way.

Really? What is his plan?

On the other hand, Kelly Maloney proved that she’s already working on getting businesses to come to Federal Way right now, and she’s got a plan for the future too (her college initiative).

Where was the breakdown in communication?

Here’s what I remember from the debate last week:

They both were asked a question from The Mirror’s editorial board that asked them what they would do about economic development.

Mark Koppang said he would work to bring businesses to Federal Way. He didn’t say how he would do that, he just said it needed to be done.

Kelly Maloney acknowledged Koppang’s point by stating that that’s what has been happening in the city since incorporation, and that she’s been actively working and collaborating on numerous initiatives that have brought businesses to the city. She said there needs to be a greater emphasis put on this, and that we need a full-time economic director because the one we have right now is over-worked and is challenged to do all the work needed. She also said the city is at risk of losing a potentially large-scale opportunity because our economic development director isn’t able to follow up on it.

Kelly went on to say that, concurrent to those efforts continuing, she is working on bringing research universities to the city. She explained that this could attract corporations to locate in Federal Way mentioning the success Bothell and Spokane are having in regard to this concept, and said that not only could this create hundreds or thousands of jobs at every level for Federal Way residents, but it could also result in hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues as the two other cities she mentioned are reporting. Kelly explained these tax revenues could be used for important infrastructure updates and adding to the police force, in addition to creating a pedestrian friendly downtown with parks and higher-end retail.

Was The Mirror out to lunch? Was The Mirror listening? What happened?

Kelly Maloney is really our future, Federal Way. Please vote to retain her for Federal Way City Council Position 2.

Kim Egge, Federal Way

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Federal Way, do you want a city you can be proud of?

Do you want the opportunity to work for a top-tier corporation or your business to flourish? Do you want your small children to have an exceptional education and lifetime experiences in their city as they grow up, and your grown children to come back to their hometown to live and work near you? Do you want the ability to get a higher education in Federal Way? Do you want your family to be safe all day and all night?

Do you want a leader who is working to provide these important aspects of life? If so, I urge you to vote for Kelly Maloney for Federal Way City Council Position 2.

As the executive director of Washington State’s Aerospace Futures Alliance, I was excited when Kelly asked me to participate in the college initiative she is working on to bring research colleges and universities to Federal Way’s downtown core.

Kelly has provided the leadership and direction needed for this initiative. She is working nationally, regionally and locally to engage interested parties. To date, meetings have been held with a top aviation research college, state officials, Federal Way’s mayor and economic development director, Federal Way school district representatives, a major airline carrier, and other Federal Way City Council members.

This transformative idea can be the catalyst for bringing in hundreds of jobs to Federal Way. By securing colleges and universities that do research and development across a spectrum of industries to locate satellite campuses in Federal Way’s downtown core, corporations will be attracted to co-locate near them in order to be a part of the research and development.

They could potentially also higher the graduates that come out of these institutions. This will create a tax base that will allow Federal Way to increase its police force, fix its sewers, and do more to fix traffic congestion. This will benefit businesses that are already located in Federal Way, and will a ttract desirable retail establishments, restaurants and upscale department stores. There are numerous studies that show this type of change in a city can bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue and hundreds or thousands of jobs at all levels. This is what Federal Way needs.

Vote for Kelly Maloney. She’s working for you.

Linda Lanham, Executive Director, Aerospace Futures Alliance

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The Mirror got it wrong. Kelly Maloney should have been their endorsed candidate for Federal Way City Council Position 2.

I have known Kelly Maloney since our kids started elementary school together. That’s a long time to get to know someone. Over the years, Kelly has proven to be one of the most generous and selfless people I know. She has been involved in many projects for the community and for our children.

She even started a business and ran it by herself for four years to keep kids safe online. She didn’t get paid for this and she did it in her “off hours” after working full-time every day. She helped keep hundreds of Federal Way kids safe when they went on Myspace and Facebook by engaging with them through the school district and educating them on the dangers that lurk online.

Kelly also believes in bringing people together, so she developed and presented an idea to the editor of the Federal Way Mirror several years ago to have a column written by people from different ethnicities. In her own words, the idea was to “show that people are more alike than different.”

This out-of-the-box thinking are just a few ways Kelly has contributed to our community over the years.

When you learn about everything Kelly has done, you will be surprised. (Go to kellymaloney.com to learn more.) How could one person do so much? Well, I can tell you, it has been at a great sacrifice. But she is driven to help other people through creative ideas and personal manpower. She never asks more from others than she is willing to do herself.

I was surprised when I saw the endorsement from The Mirror about their choice for this position. I encourage all readers to check out Kelly’s contributions to Federal Way. She has everyone’s best interests in mind.

Please vote for Kelly Maloney for Federal Way City Council Position 2.

Lisa Wintler