Last week’s Review contained a letter from a retiring City Council member presenting a slate of candidates to select for the council.

The council member has worked hard for 10 years, so I don’t begrudge him his views.

However, I am writing to urge islanders to reject the notion of a slate, whether it’s the four candidates the council member recommended or any of the other 16 possible combinations.

Running a slate ranks up there with month-long January ice storms as a bad idea for the island.

Slates encourage those elected to pick sides from the outset, rather than sorting out proposals and ideas on their merits, which is what they are selected to do.

Certainly, partnerships and highly trusting relationships between individuals emerge, but the Bainbridge Island City Council will work best when any four of the seven members can and will emerge as the majority on an issue.

Groups selected together tend to grumble together. Let’s elect the best candidates and get on with the ongoing task of seeking the most outstanding city we can get.

David Harrison

Arrow Point