To the editor:

I have lived on Bainbridge for 17 years. I witnessed many elections and candidates who promised policy and fiscal reforms, only to find out that their words do not equate with their actions.

I believe that there has been too many poor fiscal decisions and excessive amounts of money for outside “consultants” because elected officials could not make the appropriate decisions. I further believe that the recent disfunction of elected officials has allowed discord and disorganization resulting in interference with effective governance.

And yet, some of these same candidates keep running for office. We also have the problem of keeping city staff due to the costs of housing, and an overall decline in morale of our city employees.

I would like to call your attention to a candidate who is running for council, Grayson Wildsmith, who has a history of community service, honest, sound judgement, youthful and fundamental decency, has new ideas from which to draw, and would also bring a fresh face to our council.

I have been in public service my entire adult life first as a squadron commander in the Marine Corps, a mayor of a California city, a former teacher, and school principal. I know the fundamentals of good leadership and I feel that Grayson Wildsmith has the necessary qualities, maturity, energy, and understanding of good governance to serve as an effective city councilmember.

ARTHUR G. BARTEL

Bainbridge Island