Letter to the Editor: McClelland has Command of Content, Good Interpersonal Skills

To the editor:

What makes for a highly effective member of a public board or council? I have worked professionally with hundreds of boards over many years and research has shown that two qualities correlate with a person's effectiveness: a command of the content of the organization's work, and good interpersonal skills.

It is unusual to have an individual with remarkably strong attributes in both these areas as a candidate for public office for the first time. Robin McClelland as a candidate for Shoreline City Council brings these strengths.

She has a strong command of the content both because she has a master's degree in regional planning and she has worked for over 30 years with communities which are grappling with policy and planning issues. Plus, she also served for eight years on our own city's planning commission.

Personally, she reflects the quiet confidence and deep humanism that finds her engaging in respectful communications even when opinions differ. These attributes naturally lead to a commitment to collaborative decision making and strong team-building - another characteristic of effective boards and councils.

It should be no surprise that the highly-respected Municipal League gave her their highest rating - "outstanding", the only non-incumbent running for the

Shoreline City Council to receive such a rating. Let's not miss this opportunity to add Robin's strengths to our City Council.

Bruce Amundson, MD

Shoreline