Letter to the editor: Bryan Wahl is best person to lead MLT into future

Dear Editor:

After having many conversations with Bryan Wahl and getting to know him I can confidently say that Bryan is one of the best, if not THE best person to lead our city through the changes and challenges that our city will face in the coming years.

The Puget Sound region is expected to grow by close to 1.5 million people and add nearly as many jobs in the next 25 years. The Puget Sound Regional Council, a coalition of four counties and close to 100 cities and other agencies (including MLT), has set a growth strategy to focus growth to create walkable, compact, and transit-oriented communities.

As a member of the planning committee for 14 years and the City Council recently, Bryan Wahl has been integral in coming up with the Town Center plan which concentrates this inevitable population growth in to a neighborhood where it will be most beneficial. This process was open and transparent with wide involvement by citizens in all of our neighborhoods. With easy access to transit and more amenities close by, more people will be able to walk or bike to where they need to go. This will result in less dependence on our cars and allow us to spend more money locally rather than on transportation. Those with less access to automobiles like teens and seniors will see their quality of life improve and it will improve the health of our community and allow our city to be more financially sustainable.

As a homeowner in the Town Center neighborhood I’m excited that the neighborhood is changing. New buildings are going up, new businesses are moving in, and new neighbors get to call Mountlake Terrace home. Let’s not be greedy and say “not in my back yard.” Compact, mixed-use, transit-oriented development will create a more walkable, livable, financially sustainable, and diverse Mountlake Terrace.

Bryan Wahl and the others on the City Council have set policies in place that have resulted in the addition of hundreds of jobs and the capacity for hundreds of new people to be able to experience the great community we live in. That’s this year alone.

Let’s stay the course, keep moving Mountlake Terrace forward, and focus on what’s best for the long-term sustainability of our city.
You should be receiving your ballot in the mail in the next week and when you do, vote to retain Bryan Wahl on Mountlake Terrace City Council.

Dustin DeKoekkoek

  1. I heartily agree that Bryan Wahl should be retained on the Council. Thank you, Dustin, for putting it so succinctly and eloquently.The future of our City and our reputation in the region depends on leaders like Bryan Wahl. Melanie Granfors

  2. I wholeheartedly concur with Dustin’s endorsement of Bryan Wahl. And I’d like to add my endorsement as well of our other two fine incumbents, Kyoko Wright and Doug McCardle. Our current council members work well together. They may not always agree, but they’re able to work out their differences civilly and respectfully for the benefit our city–hardly a “rubber stamp” council.

  3. Out current Councilmembers have worked hard to set Mountlake Terrace on the right course in the face of current naysayers who want zero progress.

  4. I am voting for all the challengers. More growth/Density equals more traffic, less places to park, decline in the overall environment… not a place to raise your kids anymore. The traffic is a mess and sneaking in more condos is just not going to cut it. At least for this voter.
    Kathy Peterson, MLT

  5. While Bryan is a good person, putting the financial burden of benefits for future someday citizens* on the backs of current Terrace suburban citizens & voters is not fair. Yet this council wants to commit you to over 100 million in obligations through 2018 (City Manager’s August departing report).
    Stephen Barnes, candidate
    *mltnews.com reported that Arbor Village was 7 years from drawing board to completion.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Real first and last names — as well as city of residence — are required for all commenters.
This is so we can verify your identity before approving your comment.

By commenting here you agree to abide by our Code of Conduct. Please read our code at the bottom of this page before commenting.