I Support a Mayor-Council form of Government in Tacoma

I’m not convinced that the City Manager form of government is the best way to run things in Tacoma.

Back in 1952, Voters approved the switch to a Council-Manager system of government due to excessive issues with corruption.

A Council-Manager form of government is utilized by cities in Washington state with smaller populations. Yakima, Vancouver, Pasco and Kennewick, for example, are all Council-Manager run cities.

Most cities in Washington state have a Mayor-Council form of government. Cities such as Seattle, Spokane, Kent, Everett, Bremerton and Bellingham... all utilize a Mayor-Council form of government and so should Tacoma.

Tacoma is the second largest city in Western Washington and the third-most populated in the state.

Simply put, we have outgrown the Council-Manager system. The person running our city needs to be elected by the people of Tacoma as well as needing to be held accountable by the citizens.

Currently, the City Manager is selected by the council and is not accountable to the voters of the city.  Many people in Tacoma feel that this is unacceptable and that the Mayor and Council need to put our form of government on the ballot, to be decided by the voters.

I firmly believe that the citizens of Tacoma need to be able to vote, not only on our form of City Government but also on all 24 of the Charter Committee's recommendations.

This is something that was shot down by the Mayor and a few other Council Members after the head of the Chamber Of Commerce wrote them a letter telling them to vote against putting those items on the ballot.

It's shameful, really.  Earlier this year, at Council Meeting after Council Meeting, the citizens of Tacoma demanded that the Charter Committee items be put to a vote, especially with regard to our form of government. Their voices were ignored.

I have been asked several times, since running for Mayor in 2021, why I am not more vocal in calling for the firing of Tacoma's City Manager. 

As a candidate, I cannot be running around demanding that the City Manager be fired. That would be counterproductive and divisive which is something that I have to avoid as a candidate.  The more diplomatic way of dealing with this situation is to put the decision in the hands of the voters.  What I can do is be direct with my opinions and provide voters with my stance on the changes that we need as a community and voice my opinion that we need new Leadership and remind people of where we are falling short.

I will continue to speak up for the citizens of Tacoma, to put our form of government on the ballot, for the people who call this place home to decide.

Simply put, it's the right thing to do for Tacoma and in the name of democracy.