49/50: Kirkland's Great Divide

IN A REPRESENTATIVE democracy like Kirkland's, elected officials serve the community as a whole, and not its individual members. One can see this tenet embodied in the Kirkland City Council’s mission statement, which states that councilmembers are “committed to the enhancement of Kirkland as a community for living, working and leisure, with an excellent quality of life which preserves the City's existing charm and natural amenities.” 

Likewise, the first principle in the City Council’s Code of Conduct establishes that councilmembers must “consistently demonstrate the principles of professionalism, respect and civility in working for the greater good of Kirkland.” But whose “good” is the “greater good” and who comprises Kirkland’s community are difficult questions with as difficult answers.

The latest City Council election, in which for Position 4, reveals, if nothing else, that Kirkland’s community is a divided one on many issues that face our community. Nixon beat Greenway by a mere 0.9% of the total 21,152 votes cast, or 196 votes. That margin of difference is so nominal that the vote very likely could have swung the other way with Greenway retaining her seat. One way to consider this split is to see that for nearly every single Kirkland resident who voted for Nixon, there is another person who voted against Nixon. 

This division does not relieve Nixon of his forthcoming obligation to promote Kirkland’s “greater good” and to serve the city’s larger “community.”  To the contrary, for Nixon to be an effective councilmember, he must understand the concerns of the community by admitting the needs of his adversaries as much as the needs of his proponents.

Indeed, a representative who furthers only the interests of his or her voting contingency, with no regard for the greater good, does more harm than good by expanding the divide.

I’m not suggesting that Nixon will take this position. But I am emphasizing that the best course for Nixon, and any elected official, is to bridge the gap in our community by finding solutions to Kirkland’s problems that rest on the commonalities of its residents. One example of how the divide within our country’s population regarding social and economic issues has only been widened is the position taken by many elected officials who simply refuse to generate revenue with increased taxes – a position that has handcuffed suffering governments across the country at the cost of services that monumentality enhance the greater good like education programs.

Indeed, if you dig your heels in too deep, you might well just sink.

When Nixon takes office in 2012, I hope he confronts the reality that Kirkland is divided on many issues. And in doing so, I hope he abides by the City Council’s mission statement and Code of Conduct with an honest fervor and works to promote Kirkland’s greater good.

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Trent Latta is an attorney and Kirkland resident. He may be reached at TLatta@mcdougaldlaw.com.