More politics at a council meeting

By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews politics writer

Since I wrote the column below, I’ve watched another televised Shoreline City Council meeting, one where the public comments were even more offensive than they were a week earlier.

Even more people spoke about whether we should vote for or against Councilman Ron Hansen, Councilman Keith McGlashan or Councilwoman Cindy Ryu. The speakers owe the Council members an apology. To turn Voltaire’s quote around, even when I agree with what you say I can’t defend your right to say it.

Campaign in newspapers, campaign on the internet, campaign through the mail, campaign over the phone, campaign at forums, campaign in person, but avoid campaigning where our elected officials are supposed to be doing public business.

After watching the Oct. 26 Shoreline Council meeting, I watched the Edmonds Council meeting. The members and public speakers discussed City issues, but no one mentioned the coming Council elections.

Two Edmonds councilmen are in the middle of expensive, hard-fought campaigns and another lost in the primary, yet citizens left the campaign alone long enough to do city business.
Published: Wednesday, October 31, 2009



Politics at council meeting

By Evan Smith
Enterprise political writer

There they were at the Oct. 19 Shoreline City Council meeting, speaker after speaker blasting council candidates – both incumbents and challengers – or defending them.

Two different challengers spoke during the public-comment period, one defending herself against attacks from other speakers.

The incumbents didn’t have that chance. They had to sit there and take it.

Should they respond? No, but we shouldn’t subject them to such abuse.

I’m told that the public comment period is an open forum; so the council can’t restrict the content. Still, it seems to be the wrong place for electioneering.

We have plenty of places to speak for or against candidates. The council meeting shouldn’t be another.

Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@verizon.net.
Published: Wednesday, October 28, 2009