My friends and neighbors and I were dismayed at the article on the front page of the May 24 issue of the Federal Way Mirror.

It concerned a private conversation between Federal Way Mayor Skip Priest and an interim council member. We lamented over the obvious attempt to discredit the current mayor during this election year.

The article was based on a public records request prompted by a tip from an anonymous informer, although the article had no real substance. This piece certainly wasn’t “a big scoop” deserving front page coverage, and quite frankly, showed a shameful lack of discretion and integrity on the part of the newspaper and the faceless person who “leaked” the tip.

Let’s get real here: Community newspapers are unique and valued tools of communication that function solely to keep residents and businesses updated on issues and events that build, encourage and support their communities. They demonstrate higher values, even though often the news is mundane. Their purpose is to pull together, not to tear apart.

Community newspapers avoid the temptation to print bottom-feeder articles; they leave that function to the “rags.”

I’m disgusted with all parties involved in getting this tawdry article into print in our community’s Federal Way Mirror. Let’s see news on a higher plane from now on.

Sandy Petitt, Federal Way