By Leslie Kae Hamada
Guest columnist
From afar I have watched the race for Auburn mayor. I watched the video debate. I read all the Auburn Reporter coverage and all the comments. Why I write the editorial brings back flashbacks of when I was a kid on the playground and others kids were ganging up on someone that needed help.
Virginia Haugen may not be a polished spin master or charismatic public speaker, but she is exactly the perfect fit for Auburn. She deserves fair press coverage, and it does not take an expert to see the slant heavily favors the incumbent.
When you list money raised by both candidates, it really “does not” indicate to me qualifications. People know that incumbents always have avenues to line their campaign funds for many reasons other than qualifications.
It also jumped out to me in the comments sections on the debate coverage one of the fundamentals that never should enter into a race is running a candidate down because of personal attacks, such as body language, apparel, stance, and reference material. I learned as a debate student when that occurs you know there is no substance to what you are talking about or debating. What happened to sticking to the issues?
I urge the voters of Auburn to take a common-sense approach to the budget items Mayor Lewis brought up.
Where is the “big development” he speaks to that he is so great at partnering with to bring to Auburn? Can you name a completed project? He has not just been mayor since a downturn in the economy.
What is the purpose to level an area for development for a community center and force a well run program like ACAP to rely on the churches, the non-profits, and the wonderful people of Auburn to keep it afloat when you have no money to pay for the building of that new community center?
When he brings up the issue of picking up a check from King County and the state for help with the flooding issue, he uses that to showcase his relationships, but that amount would arrive to Auburn regardless of how many meetings you attend statewide, county, and federal — because it is mandated.
A wise CEO or mayor manages their time well and their relationships, they do not just show up for the expensive lunches and photo opportunities, and if Virginia Haugen has the integrity to point that out in a debate that she was going to connect with people and programs that really affected Auburn, she should be applauded for her integrity and insight.
When he states that stimulus money cannot be allocated to replace jobs lost in Auburn, he is technically correct. Because Haugen is not skilled enough to explain what she really meant in that comment and what she knows is that stimulus money can be sought within the guidelines to the maximum for Auburn which would help offset other budget items that would offset layoffs.
When they spoke to human services in King County dealing with budget cuts, I want to share with you that when the last hearings came to SKC in Kent where the people filled the Maleng Regional Justice Center and out the doors, Virginia Haugen was there to testify and Pete Lewis was nowhere in sight. How do I know that? Because I was there.
In a time where 90-second sound bites sell products and candidates and we want a person to be on trial on talk shows, have we not lost our way? When mortgages were secured with no down payments or methods by the purchaser to make the monthly payments to repay the loan, how did that turn out? When huge banks and investment companies have been bailed out months ago and we are still seeing unbelievable compensation for failure to make a profit change and no change.
Do not take lightly when a person has old-fashioned, down-to-earth values and common sense and steps up to the plate to lead. I think we all have seen what spin masters can accomplish. I prefer to give support to people spending the time doing the job. The future of Auburn depends on you the voters weighing the real issues.
The writer has the professional past employment record of public affairs for a TV station, writing for a local major newspaper and a 32-year history in a marketing business career. She received the 2009 Award from SKC for work in Human Services in Social Justice and Poverty, an award from Gov. Christine Gregoire for work with the Washington State Department of Corrections and in 2005 the Catholic Community Award for “Spirit of Caring.”
