I feel it's necessary to respond to Richard Knight's letter to the Oct. 18 Highline Times regarding fire issues.

I don't know Mr. Knight's motive for personally attacking me but here's what he said in paragraph five, "Former Mayor Hansen who spoke against the levy, was the same individual that consistently voted against using existing monies for needed improvements while serving as a city council member."

This statement is false. In the 16 years I spent on the city council I voted for the budget, which included fire service funding, 15 times. Once I voted against the proposed budget because in my judgment it contained one item that I felt was a waste of taxpayer's dollars.

I have always strongly supported necessary safety equipment and other fire equipment necessary to provide our fire fighters with the latest technology, such as thermal imaging, breathing masks, and the best fire trucks we could buy. During my tenure on the council, we increased fire funding by over 100 percent.

The recent Proposition 1 would have increased our taxes by $15 million over the next six years. Most SeaTac residents are working people or retirees who don't have a lot of extra money. The city is on sound financial footing now, and in my judgment we don't need to sock our citizens with an additional $15 million in taxes.

Now let's address who really was promoting this issue. Of our 53 fire employees, only one lives or votes in SeaTac. Mr. Knight, to the best of my knowledge, has never lived or voted in SeaTac. Politicians love to tell you how to vote but where do they live?

Rep. Smith lives in Tacoma, Karen Keiser lives in Des Moines and Shay Schual-Burke lives in Normandy Park. They don't pay taxes or vote in SeaTac, but have all been supported by the fire union. The SeaTac city manager and the fire chief don't live or vote in our city.

It's time for the citizens, taxpayers and voters to take back their city. I have lived, paid taxes, and voted in SeaTac for 53 years.

I served 16 years on the city council, including three terms as mayor, and I'm very proud of what we have accomplished since incorporation. We have cleaned up drugs and prostitution, have a beautiful city hall, a new senior center and many new beautiful parks. SeaTac is on sound financial footing.

I'm retired from politics and feel good about what we've accomplished. I'm proud of our city. Please stay involved, call your council member and attend council meetings. Make your voices heard.

Frank Hansen

SeaTac