Well, as I had heard before the Federal Way City Council meeting this past Tuesday: “The fix is in.”

Those few who stuck around for the “special discussion” and “citizen comment” regarding the elected mayor initiative on the November ballot know exactly what I mean. The problem became evident first as I learned that official notice of the meeting appeared only on The Mirror Web site. Few of those who signed the petition for change knew anything about this meeting. But of course, the city council and their friends were there — and they paraded former council Members and city employees through, to talk about how wonderful the system is.

The “resolution” was a foregone conclusion. How could we think otherwise? The city council and staff sure don’t want to see any change in city government. That’s why we had to point out that fact. When all knew it was going to be a vote “advising” voters to vote no, citizen comment became even more meaningless than it usually is.

And the misinformation was flying. Of the many comments about the alleged “cost” of an elected mayor, only the “yes vote” side brought someone to speak — with published facts in hand. Did anyone listen? No. The council and other “vote no” speakers continued to cite numbers pulled from thin air. Council member Mike Park then asked the city staff to give him some figures on mayor vs manager systems in the state. She had them ready — and naturally used the figures they wanted to hear. It was only a question by council member Jim Ferrell that forced her to clarify. But the point here is that numbers can be used any way one wants. We provided an unbiased presentation on this very fact a year ago, with an expert guest speaker. No one wants to remember that. Nor did they have an adequate response to our list of bad and costly decisions made by the city council with little or no public input. They want to talk about cost? How about we talk about the cost of not having the checks and balances our Constitution calls for?

We heard complaints about “Why are we going through this again?” Why? Because, as in any election, if the people want change, then we don’t just give up after the first try. How many positive changes would take place if we did?

On Nov. 3, the citizens will vote on one of two choices.

In the current system, the city council appoints a person to run the city without input from citizens. He or she is accountable to the city council.

The alternative: The people elect a mayor responsible to them. That is not “special interest,” as the Vote NO group would have you believe. That is Democracy in action.That is accountability directly to the citizens, with checks and balances between city council and mayor. That is what our founders had in mind when they wrote the Constitution. And that document still works.

Enough with the catch-phrases, like “Federal Way Works.” Does it work for you? An elected mayor works in cities like Auburn, Kent, Renton and Seattle. It will work here too. Vote yes to have the choice. Vote yes to elect your mayor.

Roy Parke, Federal Way (president of Accountability Comes to Town)