Print E-Mail AIM

Letters to the editor

The following are letters to the editor that appeared in the Dec. 23 print edition of The Herald. To submit a letter, e-mail editor@puyallupherald.com. Please keep letters submissions to 250 words.

Is Knutsen's change of opinion toward Kent Boyle an attempt to curry favor?

Even though Tony Aho did not achieve his goal of being elected, he came within a 184 votes, the closest of any race in District 1 over the past three elections.

I did just copy and paste this quote directly from the Nov. 25 edition of The Herald. “My family and I were definitely saddened to hear the news,” Aho said of Councilmember George Dill’s passing. “We had very different opinions about the direction of the city, but he was a good man.”

To continue the need for truth and transparency, I provide additional details. In 2008, precedent was set when Council Member Rick Hansen was appointed to the open District 2 seat after Council Member Kathy Turner was elected to the At-Large position. The rationale that the council used at that time was that Hansen went through the process of campaigning, and allowing his constituency to question and scrutinize his platform.

During a special council meeting on Jan. 9, 2008, Councilmember John Knutsen explained that he made only one selection for a candidate and that was Mr. Hansen. He stated that, “Mr. Hansen had entered the election, did the door-belling and put up his own money for the campaign.”

In a letter to the editor, it was suggested that Knutsen may vote in conflict with his past position and Hansen may vote against the very process that got him appointed. Now, Knutsen speaks highly of Kent Boyle when that was not the case during to the primary and general election. Is this a blatant attempt to curry favor with Mr. Boyle?

Nanci A. Rosella, Puyallup

Why can't city hand over records that have been requested by John Knutsen?

It should be clear to the Puyallup taxpayers who observed the city council meeting on Dec. 15 that some of our tax dollars are being spent on legal fees merely to stop a request for city records.

We have also been informed that an attorney was hired from Spokane to come over at the request of the city manager to bring the public up to date since the case had already been closed. Just another expenditure to be funded by taxpayers.

It should be noted that some elected officials will go to great lengths to hide things that could expose them to public criticism.

So again I ask, what was so important that the request for certain city records couldn’t be handed over? Especially since it would have prevented more than $150,000 of city tax dollars being wasted on legal fees. Councilmember John Knutsen did not make the city spend the $150,000.

The city chose to do so rather than provide him with the public information he requested. Maybe its time for an investigation by the state auditor to see why Puyallup tax payers must foot legal fees, especially since the city manager had been informed that the records were necessary for a council member to review the material to stop misinformation and rumors.

Lewis E. Pugh Jr., Puyallup