About three years ago, a movement began to disrupt the quality of life in SeaTac. At first, it surfaced as a public relations campaign to turn local business owners and managers against city government for a decision to create a City Center.

After failures to negotiate a purchase price for property necessary to create such a Center, the city discussed moving to a condemnation of the property. This action was dropped, the council and city manager came to an agreement in which he resigned and has moved on, and one would have hoped that the city could have resumed its business of providing for the health and safety of all SeaTac citizens with minimal disruption.

Instead, the city has been faced with a combination of challenges to its very base. If you watch Channel 21, the local government cable channel, you will get a better understanding of the kinds of problems we are facing as a small group of individuals and businesses attempt to take over SeaTac city government.

These problems include:

(1).The appearance at council meetings of a number of individuals whose goal seems to be disruption of those meetings, insults to elected officials and emotional outbursts.

(2).The emergence of a movement financed by a few individuals to change the form of SeaTac government.

(3).The emergence of candidates for City Council whose public disclosure documents indicate a very small group of contributors who also happen to be the same folks supporting the proposed change in government.

(4).The use of public information requests to embarrass city staff and elected officials.

These efforts have created an image for the city, which is damaging to the quality of life in SeaTac.

Neighboring cities and businesses are aware of the tension caused by the current enmity. It is difficult to recommend SeaTac as a place to live and do business while these problems are occurring, and it is difficult to nurture a healthy environment for ourselves and our children in such a place.

I am urging the voters of SeaTac to look at the WA Public Disclosure Commission for contribution information about candidates and issues on the November ballot.

We need to take our democratic responsibility seriously and look into the facts of the November General Election to prevent our government from being taken over by a few who have the money to buy the election.

It is essential to our Democracy to be an informed voter.

Wendy A. Morgan
SeaTac