[Letter by Ethan Benson – City of Snoqualmie Councilmember. Views expressed are those of the author, not the Living Snoqualmie website. You may submit letters of support for your candidate to info@livingsnoqualmie.com.]
Fellow Snoqualmians,
My name is Ethan Benson, and I am running for re-election to the Snoqualmie City Council. I have occupied Position 1 on the council for the past four years, and with your permission, I would like to represent you for the next four.
My family moved to Snoqualmie in 2011, and my wife and her best friend opened Rooster Valley Farm School downtown the following year. We have raised three children in this city, the youngest of whom just began her freshman year at Mt. Si High. In 2017, I left my 25-year teaching career to work for Church on the Ridge, where I established Serve Snoqualmie Sports, a collection of adult sports leagues open to everyone in the community, where close to 500 athletes play every year.
I am running for re-election because I am committed to our community, and I care about a functioning government that represents the people. You have a right to a city government that is accountable to you. Any question or suggestion you have is valid, and any demand or complaint should be heard. It is the job of a council member to hold you at the center of his thoughts with every decision he makes.
When I decide how I will vote on an issue, I have three core governing values I’m committed to:
· Public Safety
· Fiscal Responsibility
· Individual Rights
One or more of these values lies at the center of every decision the council makes. I believe these values are shared by all of us, and that by adhering to them, I can represent everyone in the community.
Especially in an election year, I find myself being asked what “my vision” is for Snoqualmie. It is an interesting question to me, because I don’t have one. Not because I never received a vision, but because I have spent the past four years deliberately avoiding developing “my vision” for Snoqualmie. I don’t think that’s the job of a council member. That’s your job.
My job is to listen to you and figure out how to make your vision for Snoqualmie work. And, no offense, but it’s not going to be “your vision.” It can’t be. There are over 14,000 people in this city who demand representation, which requires compromise. I can promise you, however, that I am not at all focused on “my vision” for Snoqualmie. I do not believe that I have all the answers and ideas, which means my ears are open to hear your thoughts. Nothing hinders a person’s ability to listen more than the idea that he already has the answer. By listening to you, I can learn what the collective vision for Snoqualmie is, and I can advocate for that.
As an example, I came into my position on the council with no opinion as to whether we should build a pool in Snoqualmie. In the four years since, I have observed that a significant majority of our city believes there is a pressing need for a pool in our Valley. A significant percentage of our residents also believe that the current plan is too expensive, and that it will produce a pool that is too small for the need. That leads me to the conclusion that your collective vision is that we need a pool that is bigger and cheaper. I cannot figure out how that is possible, unless the pool we imagine is built with the partnership of all our Valley partners. So, that is what I advocate.
I debated my opponent, Dan Murphy, last Tuesday night, and I gotta tell you, I liked him. He was intelligent, affable, well-spoken, and better-looking than me. I’m not sure how much of a debate it was, to tell you the truth, because I think we agreed with one another on every question, either mostly or completely. We only had three questions, of course, and I’m sure there are probably many things we disagree on, but I believe he’d make a fine councilman.
Predictably, however, I think I am the right choice in this election. There is a steep learning curve when you join the City Council, and it takes a while before you really get your sea legs. At this moment in Snoqualmie, we have big challenges to contend with, and I believe you want as much experience on the council as you can get. My four years of service mean that I will not need the training a new council member requires. I hope I have clearly explained how I do my work on the council, and I ask for your voice and your vote to allow me to continue to work for you in the next term.
CM Ethan Benson
