I attended a meeting of the 33rd District Democrats to hear candidates speak. Of all the candidates' material that was handed out, only one piece stood out as negative. And it was highly negative.

The handout was provided by a brand new Burien Political Action Committee (PAC) call Citizens for Honesty in Government. It was pure mudslinging at incumbent Burien City Councilman Stephen Lamphear.

As it turns out, this PAC was formed by a tiny group of supporters of Rose Clark who is a candidate for Burien City Council and not coincidentally for Stephen Lamphear's position.

As a former Burien resident and a person who is very excited about the positive revitalization that the city is undergoing, I feel that I still have a vested interest in the city. For this reason I would like to remind the citizens of Burien of the negative campaign tactics employed not that long ago in the city of Des Moines.

Perhaps some of you will remember that time of discord and the price that the city of Des Moines paid because many citizens believed the garbage that was circulated and voted for the candidates that circulated it. Doesn't it make you wonder why any candidate would welcome that kind of support?

I hope that the people of Burien will remember the caliber of people that Des Moines elected because they fell for those dirty tactics. I ask you if this is the kind of person that you want in your city government? And I assure you that Burien can do better.

I urge you to independently study Lamphear's voting record and accomplishments for yourself, all of it. The minutes of all Burien Council meetings are on the city's web page at www.ci.burien.wa.us/council/council.htm. Paper copies are available at City Hall.

Don't listen to people who are cherry picking to simply find your buttons and push them. Burien can learn from Des Moines' mistakes. Please do.

Marsha St. Louis

Normandy Park