SOAP LAKE COUNCIL: Reader upset with mayor's decision

Will of the people ignored or possibly circumvented?

On Oct. 5, 2011, I attended the Soap Lake City Council Meeting. During the meeting a city council 2 position was filled due to a resignation the week prior.

What I found interesting was the choice made by Mayor Hovde. It wasn't Kat Sanderson who garnered 53.64 percent of the primary vote but De Black who only received 21 percent.

Mr. Black was nominated and voted on with no discussion by any of the City Council members. It reeked of maintaining the "status quo" by the mayor and the council.

It also reeked (a bit) of election tampering.

There is only 3 months left for this council position appointment. It could have been left open with no harm to the city carrying on business as usual which would have been the best choice for the mayor and the council to have taken.

But, they showed their bias of who they wanted on the council.

Is this fair to the majority of Soap Lake citizens who voted in the primary? I think not. Mr. Black will now be seen as the incumbent and I'm curious if that means his name will be in the top position for council position 2?

This was not "ethical" in my opinion and my reason for bringing this to the attention of the voters.

Judith Tramayne

Soap Lake