Frisinger best choice for Issaquah mayor
Ava Frisinger has served Issaquah for eight years as its
mayor, and has done a fine job. Frisinger's strength is her role in regional
governance. She is respected and
listened to when she is at the table with other Eastside mayors or legislators. Issaquah
sits ready to double its size should annexations proceed and will have more
clout than ever in regional affairs. Now
is the perfect time to keep a proven leader in place.
At home in Issaquah, Frisinger is accessible and a good
listener to her constituents. She has been known to stand with her staff as
potential floodwaters rise, and she devotes volunteer time as a guide at the
fish hatchery. But more
importantly, she has reduced city expenses when budget revenues have been tight.
Were there another strong opponent, we might be tempted to
buy into the "time for a change" axiom - but there is not, and no
reason for change. Frisinger
deserves to continue as mayor and we look forward to her third term.
We appreciate challenger Hank Thomas, a city councilman willing to play ball in left field where no one else will go. He is a maverick, more concerned about asking tough questions than building consensus. Those attributes that bring a differing viewpoint to the council are not what we look for in a mayor.