At a public debate Oct. 2, Burien City Council member Jerry Robison stated that "if White Center does not vote to go to Burien now, next year, Seattle would annex White Center and could do it without a vote of its residents."

It is the view of Independent White Center committee, a group opposing annexation, that Mr. Robison continues to intentionally misrepresent this complex issue to frighten White Center residents. We asked Seattle City Council member Jean Godden, vice chair of the Seattle Parks and Neighborhoods Committee, to respond to Mr. Robison's claim. Her response is included below in an email sent to Mark Ufkes, member of the Independent White Center committee:

I should let you know that, misinformation to the contrary, the Seattle City Council has never within my tenure (nine years) contemplated annexing White Center without a vote. As budget constraints currently stand, we are unlikely to seriously consider such a move in the near future. And, as you point out, even if we were to take the issue up again, we would require a vote of those affected before taking any action.

You certainly can share that information,

P.S. We are presently working on a biennial budget. And, whereas Seattle is in better shape financially than in any of the past four years, I have seen no budget item nor legislative statement that would indicate that Seattle would be looking at any annexation proposals in 2013.
Jean Godden

Mark Ufkes
White Center