Kent Councilmember: Tim Clark did not speak for City Council

I continue to be very disturbed by the tone and the accusations displayed by Tim Clark at the Oct. 6 Kent City Council meeting and I would like to make the record clear.

Tim Clark did not have my permission to speak on my behalf in what was clearly an attack on the mayor and the current administration.

He never indicated to me what he planned to do or say.

Further, it is apparent from reading the Oct. 10 Kent Reporter, that five of the seven council members did not know that he planned such a statement. That is hardly speaking on behalf of the entire council. If the council truly distrusted and felt administration was exercising poor fiscal management, I do not believe we would have unanimously approved $1.5 million to take proactive measures to prepare to keep Kent safe this winter from any potential flooding.

So, let us all take the long view. Our city, like many others cities, is facing the same deficit brought on by the global recession. While state agencies made their cuts effective July 1, the beginning of their fiscal year, many cities around us are taking cuts now and into 2010, the beginning of our next fiscal year.

And, like many other cities, we are aggressively taking action now and in the coming weeks with the development of the 2010 budget. There are many uncertainties facing Kent right now; not only predicting the length and duration of the recession, but also the impact the flood threat may have upon economic development and flooding, if that should occur.

As a community we must all work together, not tear each other apart, to see this one through. Let’s set the anger and the accusations aside and keep the proper perspective.

Debbie Ranniger

City Councilmember

Kent