It is helpful to understand how a local elected body, either commission or council, operates in order to recognize how a candidate for public office would serve on that body.

In Federal Way, appointed citizen commissions review a yearly work plan and then make a recommendation to a council committee for implementation. For example, a parks commission may recommend adding a children’s playground to an existing park. The recommendation is then sent to a council committee who reviews the city budget, staff workload, many other issues, and then sends the idea to the full council for possible adoption at a council meeting.

An extensive review of the idea is conducted prior to implementation, such as asking a consultant to identify costs associated with the playground development.

The council, comprised of seven elected individuals, is then charged with making a decision in the best interests of its citizens. The council members may not all agree on the necessity of the playground project and may vote it up or down. This is where it is helpful to understand that an individual is operating within a group. The members may not all agree in the importance of moving the project forward in a down economy. The group decision overrides individual desires.

I believe that Federal Way is best served when the council members do not all agree all the time, when they can respectfully discuss an issue, agree to disagree, and then move forward for the benefit of the city. Susan Honda has learned to work within a group as well as become a leader within that group. She’s served on multiple city commissions and currently serves as a commission chair. She’s learned to discuss issues and move forward. More than that, she also understands the importance of a council member’s role on regional committees. She’ll be actively involved in making sure that Federal Way’s best interests are represented both locally and regionally.

Please join me in voting for an excellent candidate, Susan Honda, for Federal Way City Council pos. 3.

Linda Kochmar, Federal Way City Council member