The true troubling history is with the current majority on City Council and their deep ties to the Master Builders Association Political Action Committee (aka the “Affordable Housing Council”) who have made substantial contributions to the Ottersburg, Gorc, Freed, Evans, Spivey and Lamb campaigns. For those people this election is about one thing and one thing only: Controlling land use in Bothell to develop over every last inch of land, to the detriment of our neighborhoods, our infrastructure, and our natural resources. Bothell has met and exceeded density targets set by the Growth Management Act. The current infrastructure has not kept pace with increased traffic passing through from surrounding areas let alone being able to move in traffic locally! Since this is the case, is it wise to up-zone land for more density? That’s what the pro-development majority on Council has been doing. This election is about controlling the Planning Commission who design that outcome, it is about steering which bids and from what companies are sent before council. It’s about controlling how your taxpayer $’s regardless of neighborhood needs and priorities.

Mr. Ottersburg has no experience and has just recently arrived on the Bothell community scene, hand-picked to run for this election. He represents a sad-misguided ideology that Bothell that has put housing development before infrastructure.

By contrast, Mr. McNeal a life-long resident with proven municipal experience, and deep commitment to the citizens of Bothell. He has earned the respect of Bothell residents, County and State leaders (on both sides of the aisle) and has brought non-partisan dollars into Bothell to preserve, protect, and negotiate a community outcome for open space and parks. He is a threat to the current power-base and as a result a desperate smear campaign has been attempted. If I am disappointed in anyone, it is that Mr. Ottersburg would be a party to any of it.

We are a so, so lucky that Andy Rheaume, Davina Duerr and James McNeal all independent, proven, experienced and thoughtful residents have stepped up at this critical time to lead our city into the future.

Cathy Ferbrache, Bothell