Letter To the Editor: Opt for Good Judgment Over Length of Experience

The following is Jack Tonkin's letter to the editor in response to a previous letter writer who submitted: “.”

Dear Ms. Dahl,

In your August 9th letter to the Patch Editor, you characterize Gov Watch as having “only one agenda” with that agenda being “78 percent of voters opposed Prop. 1, blah, blah, blah.”

I’m unclear what “blah, blah, blah” means but you are quite correct that we point to Proposition 1 as an important agenda topic when it comes to fiscal responsibility. If you will recall, the city spending practices exhausted our revenues which required a vote for more tax money. When examples of city spending  became an issue (one-third of city staff were paid more than $100,000 per year) coupled with the disclosure Prop. 1 would raise the City’s levy rate by 38.6% in just the first year)….it is no small wonder 78% of citizens voted NO.

As Bill Clinton said, “It’s all about money stupid."  Money determines whether our city can hire police or staff to administrate, buy parks and maintain them, or pay bills to remain solvent, etc.,etc.  Unfortunately, too many legislators throughout our country spent more than their revenues brought in and now cities, states and our federal government are in serious financial trouble. Our legislators in Lake Forest Park did not sufficiently react to the loss of revenues, nor did they develop budgets that were sustainable. The “demonstrated experience” you refer to with incumbents is exactly why we are in trouble. Experience with failed voting records that impact our future does not warrant endorsement. Certainly one aspect of experience comes from learning of mistakes and correcting them. Remaining in denial over budget mistakes is not the “demonstrated experience” we need right now.    

Gov Watch was formed to ensure the City remains viable, affordable and sustainable. Our economy is clearly losing money and without proper planning, this city cannot survive. Without solid financial planning and bringing down costs in line with revenues, none of the services we desire and none of the amenities we enjoy will matter. Jobs, homes, health; they all connect to money. I would opt for good judgment over length of experience when it comes to asking legislators to keep us afloat through these tumultuous times. 

I would welcome your thoughts and insight on these matters. I would also welcome the thoughts and insight of Brian Cathcart as his career is dealing with financial issues. 

Respectfully,

Jack Tonkin

Lake Forest Park