Council Candidates Square Off on Status Quo

The contenders for framed a candidate forum held Tuesday, Sept. 13 at a meeting in terms of whether people are satisified with how the council and the city government is operating.

Rotary Club of Mercer Island hosted the candidates in the only contested political race on the island this season, and , who are competing for the City Council seat that Jahncke holds.

The themes the candidates addressed in their 10-minute presentations were in keeping with what they’ve discussed before. Jahncke stressed that the current government is efficient and working well, while Bertlin said that and fines to the city are an indication that and change is needed.

Jahncke opened by reading a number of testimonials from city staff members published in a two-page ad in the to point out that "everything is going well” in . Jahncke said the way the city staff feels about how city government is run is an indicator that the government that’s in place is working for the city.

Jahncke said the main issues he sees coming up for Mercer Island over the next five years center around . He said the city needs to focus on keeping access to the center roadway on I-90 for as long as possible before Sound Transit begins work on its planned Light Rail link, and that potential tolling on I-90 will be a big issue for Mercer Island to advocate on behalf of residents.

“It’s unprecedented to take revenue from one corridor to pay for improvements on another,” he said.

He said infrastructure issues facing the city include the need for expanding capacity at Mercer Island schools, the , and the community’s desire for a community theatre.

Bertlin said in her presentation that one of the reasons she was running is that she believes in high ethical standards professionally.

“We have a tarnished reputation as a city, as a council,” she said, noting that the city had on Tuesday morning been stemming from former Deputy City Manager Londi Lindell's lawsuit filed against the city and related to failure to disclose public documents. , the city will pay a total of nearly $200,000 out of their own coffers in uninsured liabilities. 

“That comes from our ballfields, our parks. To me that is not acceptable.”

Bertlin said other primary issues she would like to address as a city council member would include determining how to optimize finite fiscal resources; to be proactive on public safety issues such as the , which she said would be in dire straits if there were an emergency; ensure that Mercer Island residents have adequate access to light rail and ensure the continuation of essential bus service to islanders as the island loses access to the center roadway; and to work to enhance parks and active spaces.

“For me, the primary lens is that this is a multi-generational community. We have to maximize every dollar for the benefit of the majority of residents,” Bertlin said.

During the follow up 10-minute question and answer period, members of the audience asked questions about the lawsuit and related fines, including why the city manager is still in place. Jahncke responded that the in an upcoming executive session. Bertlin said she believes the issue should be addressed in an open meeting to restore transparency and accountability to the issue.

Regarding the aging , Jahncke said that the city is currently considering whether to do major repairs or find a new spot for a new pool. Bertlin said as part of the City’s aquatics task force, she has talked to a lot of residents and a pool is very important to the community. She said the city needs to figure out how to make it financially feasible and self-sufficient.

After the meeting, Bertlin said she definitely sees her run for a council seat as a referendum on the council members. She said she happens to be running against Jahncke, but that she believes there are problems beyond any single council member.

Jahncke said he hadn’t heard of the latest fine against the city before the meeting, and that the settlement of the original lawsuit was the result of decisions by the city’s insurer.

The candidates were introduced by Councilman Mike Cero, who is running uncontested for his council seat in the upcoming election. Both Bertlin and Jahncke have previous ties to Mercer Island Rotary; Jahncke was a member of the club from 1995 – 2002, and Bertlin was a recipient of the MI Rotary scholarship for graduate studies.