Too much cat-skinning

Thanks to Shawn Vestal for the article (“Valley council needs more transparency,” June 1) regarding the Spokane Valley City Council. He hit the nail on the head: There is way too much behind the scenes plotting and “cat skinning” in this current council. Vestal saved me having to write a wordy letter to them.

Shame on the councilmen for politicking for themselves and not for the betterment of our city. There is a reason the early council members did not align themselves with a political party. It was done so that the needs of the city were put first.

I’m sorry also for the council members that resigned. When the going gets tough, you need to get tougher. A marriage of different personalities is what being a council is all about. It’s a lot of work and they agreed to take on that job when they were sworn into office. Their resignations hurt all of us.

Anyone who has ever been on a committee, council or commission knows what a quorum is and what open meeting laws are. Why do current council members think that they can be held to a different standard? It certainly isn’t a better standard and is only doing harm to their reputations and to the reputation of our good community. Transparency is a key to great leadership.

We elected all of them to do a job - make our city safe, viable financially and a place where business and community thrive. They should do their jobs. Represent us openly, without subterfuge. It’s what the people of Spokane Valley deserve. And it’s what we elected them to do.

Theresa Schimmels

Spokane Valley