I refute Mr. Terry Thomas’ criticism in The Mirror of Jim Ferrell’s mayoral win.

Any salary to a city administrator, if one is even hired, would be far more offset by the savings from Mr. Skip Priest’s PACC expense, e.g. the cost of the multiple high-salaried theater managers and directors, plus their specialty staffs and technicians, and some FTEs.

Those are for-certain expenses as spelled out in the PACC pro forma that Mayor Priest has accepted.

Federal Way City Councilmember Jeanne Burbidge commented that Skip Priest “deserves” to be mayor.

Her long-sought endeavor to get a bigger performing arts theater was made possible by Skip Priest in the Legislature by specifically crafting a CDBG grant with a “hook” in it that it must include theater construction or repay the grant. Mayor Priest said we’ll be “on the hook for that money” during the Twin Lakes Country Club candidates forum. That hook was intentional by their design, to pressure the project upon us.

I see why Mrs. Burbidge feels Mayor Priest is deserving, but that’s from her unique perspective, not the electorate’s, obviously.

Only Jim Ferrell will allow the citizens to vote on this outrageous project.

That is why Jim deserves to be our mayor.

It seems that’s how the majority saw it too.

Marie Adair, Federal Way