To the editor:

In the decades since all-island government, we have had some fantastic city council members, and we owe them our thanks for their service.

But, for the last several years, the council has been dominated by a number of highly partisan folks who don’t seem to understand that local leadership is all about cooperation and transparency. This has (sadly) led to some vehement polarization in our once cohesive community.

This fall’s election offers some clear choices in each ward. I ask you to join with me and vote for Val Tollefson, Wayne Roth and Roger Townsend.

Each of them understands that effective leadership in any small town setting requires collaboration, consensus, compromise and civility.

Good city governance is not about winning ever issue, or beating and vilifying the other guy. It should be about respectfully working together to solve problems, with everyone giving a little so they can meet in the middle.

Please vote for these good-government candidates, since the last thing we need is more aggressive polarizing council members.

BRUCE P. WEILAND

Bainbridge Island