History has shown that incumbents in non-partisan races who get less than 50 percent of the vote in the primary election are very seldom elected in the general election.

This must be very distressing for Des Moines Councilwoman Maggie Steenrod, who got less than 37 percent in the primary.

Her election prospects only get worse when voters read her campaign claims closely. On her website, she takes credit for at least two major accomplishments that she clearly doesn't deserve.

First, Maggie claims that she "Upgraded Pacific Highway South..." Her claim is not correct since the credit for this project rightfully belongs to previous city councils whose decisions were made many years before Ms. Steenrod was elected.

Second, Maggie claims to have commissioned an economic development study. The April 8, 2004, city council minutes show that she and Councilman Petersen actually voted against the funding necessary to hire a competent economic development consultant to do this study.

If they had prevailed, this study would have never happened.

Maggie Steenrod doesn't have a positive record to campaign on so she now takes credit for other people's achievements. She also takes credit for the economic development study that was done in spite of her actions, not because of her actions.

How can we believe anything she says during this campaign?

Elizabeth Horton

Des Moine