Citizens Accept Challenge:

In a paid advertisement in this weeks Woodinville Weekly, Deputy Mayor Liz Aspen challenges the citizens of Woodinville to call City Hall and check on claims pertaining to comments made by Mayor Talmas. We accepted the challenge. Here’s the score card.

City Finances and the Carol Edwards Center:

Mayor Talmas “True” – Liz Aspen “False”

With regard to Woodinville's on going and past financial situation. In 2010 Finance Director Jim Katica was very frank about his concerns for Woodinville's fiscal health. His projections showed the city's operations running in the red by 2012, with the size of budget deficits increasing steadily over time. In response, Bernie Talmas and a majority of the City Council voted to close the Carol Edwards Center and publish a request for proposals for third parties to run the center. The YMCA submitted a proposal and now leases the building and runs the programs. The Center now has significantly more programs and participants than it did under the City's operation, and Finance Director Jim Katica confirmed for us that these change are saving the city around a million dollars a year. Ms. Aspen voted against all these changes.

Comments on Regional Participation and Effectiveness:

Mayor Talmas “True” – Liz Aspen “False”

Mayor Talmas figures prominently into our regional political scene and his efforts in this area have been extremely beneficial for Woodinville. It was through the Sound Cites Association – Public Issues Committee which our Mayor is Vice-Chair, that he discovered the plans by King County staffers who are looking at the potential siting of a regional garbage transfer station in Woodinville. It was through Bernie’s direct efforts that this has now been reopened and is under review.

Woodinville has been burdened with growth goals set as if we were a large city instead of the small city we are. We did not have participation on the proper committees when this occurred. Mayor Talmas has now earned a seat as a voting member of the Growth Management Policy Board for the PSRC. This is a first for Woodinville.

As the saying goes “If you’re not sitting at the table you’re on the menu”.

Liz Aspen has tried to make an issue of ethics and honesty. This paid advertisement by her demonstrates these issues are not really about ethics and honest but just politically driven rhetoric. We are disappointed to see the hard work and efforts by Mayor Talmas, on behalf of our City and Citizens misrepresented for political gain by Councilmember Aspen.