‘Vote Eades for Soos Creek Water and Sewer’
Dear editor,
Experience matters! That’s why I support the re-election of Alan Eades for Soos Creek Water and Sewer District Commissioner. I’ve known Alan for nearly 20 years. I believe Alan is a man of integrity and he puts the rate payers’ best interest at the forefront of his decisions.
It turns out that government agencies always in need of additional revenue have found a new way to tax us. They call this new charge a “franchise fee.” With his experience, Alan can spot when something’s not right, and there’s something not right with these franchise fees.
Alan has stood up in opposition, saying these additional fees get passed onto ratepayers and they get nothing in return. Currently Alan is voicing his opposition to these franchise fees, and utility taxes, on behalf of ratepayers. In some parts of our state similar utility taxes have gone up to as high as 36 percent!
And the water district where Alan’s opponent works has actually approved a 6.3 percent franchise fee, the very same fee that Alan opposes.
Thank you to Alan and his group for standing up for us ratepayers.
Alan Eades has a proven record at Soos Creek for running things effectively and efficiently. We need more people in government positions like Alan Eades! He is trustworthy, honest and hard-working and his priority is to run things properly.
Please join me in supporting Alan Eades for Soos Creek Commissioner, the man who stands up for what’s right, that man that stands up for us.
Sincerely,
Howard Home
Maple Valley
Maple Valley Mayor supports Alan Eades
Dear editor,
Alan Eades, the current commissioner at Soos Creek Water and Sewer District, has a proven track record of honorable service to the ratepayers of Soos Creek. Alan has been associated with Soos Creek as an employee, manager, and now commissioner, for 28 years. I know Alan serves with integrity because I have served alongside him in a variety of volunteer capacities, and I know that he works tirelessly for the greater good, putting other’s needs before his own. And the proof is in the results.
Soos Creek ratepayers paid the LOWEST average monthly residential water bills in two out of three categories of consumption at 2018 rates, out of 26 purveyors of water, according to data obtained from Seattle Public Utilities, and these water bills were LOWER than the bills at his opponent’s water utility district in all three categories.
Alan is also actively engaged in opposing unfair taxes and franchise fees from being imposed on Soos Creek ratepayers. King County is attempting to charge rent for the areas of our roads where our water and sewer mains are located. Alan knows that if they are successful every penny of these fees and taxes will be added to your water/sewer bills and he wants to stop this.
Alan has expertise and knowledge in both the water and sewer industries and is a tremendous asset to us as ratepayers. I encourage voters within the Soos Creek Water and Sewer District boundary to re-elect Alan Eades as Commissioner, Position 2.
Sincerely,
Sean P Kelly
Mayor of Maple Valley
‘Logan Wallace is the smart choice for Soos Creek Commissioner’
Dear editor,
Why would we elect a candidate who doesn’t have the same vested interests as the voters they should represent? I was troubled to find that in the race for Soos Creek Water and Sewer District commissioner there is such a candidate. Alan Eades is running for commissioner at the Soos Creek District; he lives in the district boundary but does not pay a bill like the rest of us. We have an elected official making policy decisions that do not affect him, only the customers who pay a bill like me.
I contacted the district personally and they confirmed that Alan Eades is not a customer. He receives his water from Covington water (where he is also a commissioner) and he remains on a septic system. As a customer of the district, I am very concerned to discover a candidate running for office who directly oversees my service and the cost of my bill, that doesn’t pay a bill himself. How can we trust a candidate will fight for the smart investment of district dollars and work to establish reasonable bills when he doesn’t pay one himself?
I am also concerned that Covington Water, where Alan is a commissioner, has rates far higher than Soos Creek and that those bill increases will be brought to Soos Creek as well.
In contrast, his opponent, Logan Wallace, pays a bill just like the rest of us. His wife regularly volunteers at the elementary school my children attend. What I have learned about Logan Wallace is that he is a U.S. Navy veteran, UW graduate, licensed civil engineer, devoted family man and works as the senior engineer at another water utility district. Logan was also the former Chief of Cost Engineering at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has over 15 years of experience in the engineering field.
Logan opposes utility taxes and rental fees. He has made it his goal to reduce rates to the lowest sustainable level at Soos Creek. He is running because he saw another opportunity to apply his skills to serve the community. He is a veteran and engineer; he has a financial background and he works in the utility industry. He doesn’t hold multiple offices or rely on political endorsements; his platform is a highly qualified candidate with a career in public service.
The bottom line: Logan Wallace is not only the most qualified candidate, but he is also the only
candidate that pays a bill like you and me. He has my vote.
Sincerely,
Lisa Hale
Kent
Reader supports Covington’s town center plans
Dear editor,
Dear Editor:
As I read through candidates’ materials for our upcoming election, I feel compelled to comment.
I too agree that our city needs good roads and a plan for improvement in place. That’s why I’ve been pleased that our current city council has projects in the works with more than $30 million earmarked for road construction and widening of several roads including 272nd and 204th, bridge repair on 256th and much needed sidewalks along 164th.
That being said, a prosperous town is made up of more than good roads. Thriving cities have town centers, places for people to gather and connect, hold events, and celebrate music, art and culture. Flourishing cities have places to do all these things which, in turn, draws outside visitors in to spend their money at our shops and restaurants. Not to mention a sense of identity and pride for the citizens of Covington. Nobody has ever had a sense of civic identity and pride based on good roads alone.
This is also why I am pleased that the current city council recently purchased the 10-acre Covington Elementary site for $3.9 million cash, $1.2 million of which was covered by a state grant, to eventually serve as a place for a town center. Paying in cash means they saved taxpayers tens of thousands in rent and interest payments. That is smart planning!
It’s of the utmost importance that we have a city council who can take care of today’s needs without sacrificing a vision for the future. And for that reason, I believe we should vote to retain our current councilmembers Jennifer Harjehausen, Marlla Mhoon and Sean Smith.
Sincerely,
Marita Ledesma
Covington
