In the city of Tukwila, there are three city council seats and one mayor’s positions expiring at the end of this year. Council Members Robertson, Kruller, and Hoggardy currently occupy the Council seats. Mayor Haggarton’s term is expiring. You may contact Tukwila City Hall or King County Elections for more information: http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/candidatefiling.aspx http://www.tukwilawa.gov/

Because of the poor economy, it is imperative that we elect people dedicated to bringing service-costs within our ability to pay for them. Currently, the City of Tukwila is raising fees and taxes that fall most heavily on those of us in our community least able to pay for them. Answer this question; is the amount of spending more this year than last year? Filing dates are: Consult the earlier listed links to King County Elections and Tukwila. In lieu of sufficient funds to pay the filing fee, you may submit a filing fee petition.

If you would like to run for one of these seats and serve the people of our city, it isn’t too early to announce your desire to serve. Then those of us in the community who may help you can begin to learn about you and the resources you need to run a campaign. Here are some suggestions: Announce your intent at a city council meeting. There is usually a newspaper reporter covering the meeting. Write a letter to the newspaper. Tell the newspaper’s political reporter you are running. No special education or experience is required – just a desire to serve.

Young people are especially attractive to me because they are so underrepresented in local government. Much is happening in the city of Tukwila - too much for us to manage a city by losing seats to professional politicians by default.

Paul Willoughby