Supporters of an elected mayor form of government have used Celebration Park as a whipping post to goad voters to changing our form of government. The park’s creation might be considered controversial, but its existence is an example of the vision our community had back when we first became a city.

Even the name of the park reflected our vision. We were celebrating that Federal Way, as an independent city, could now become the great place to live work and play that we had dreamed it would become. This year, Newsweek magazine listed Federal Way as one of the top two best places to raise a family in Washington state. After less than 20 years since our city’s incorporation, that is a tribute to our convictions and our vision for our community.

The recent trash talking about Celebration Park and our new community center illustrates a total disrespect for any accomplishments our city has ever made. The fact that we have a highly qualified nationally certified police force, lowest crime rate in South King County, and the lowest per capita cost for city services than all the major cities in South King County, means absolutely nothing to them. They just will continue to feed their political line to us that a strong mayor will do better, whatever that better is supposed to be. They really do not say, do they?

I believe we are much better off with our city council/city manager form of government.

Please vote no on Proposition 1, a strong mayor form of government.

Marilyn Kellogg, Federal Way