I’m not sure where Robin is learning his campaign tactics …. just pick a key word (cronyism!) and get your supporters to keep repeating it regardless of how irrelevant or asinine it is. This kind of campaigning has no place in a Renton City Council race, and now that it’s become Robin’s campaign theme, allow me to remind Robin what a crony is, and is not.

“Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications.”

Let me break this down: first, an election is not an appointment by incumbents, and an endorsement of a candidate is not an appointment. It is an announcement to the voting public that they believe that THIS candidate, Ed Prince, is the superior candidate to serve Renton. The elected officials and organizations that have endorsed Ed Prince have done so because Ed has spent YEARS working for Renton. They have seen Ed’s dedication to the people in this community. They have seen his commitment to learning the issues, hearing from the people, and making intelligent decisions.

Second, cronyism is favoritism “regardless of their qualifications.” If Ed was unqualified and still had so much more support than Robin Jones, Robin might have something to complain about. But Ed has significantly broader experience than Robin in Renton organizations, and has spent his entire career engaged in local, neighborhood efforts to improve communities. From serving on the City of Renton Planning Commission to serving as a City of Renton Community Budget Adviser, it’s pretty clear who has actually done work in and for Renton, and who is just shouting Crony! Crony! Crony! for lack of anything substantive to offer. Ed has earned the respect of people all around this community for all manner of reasons, including running a clean, positive campaign. I’ll be voting for Ed Prince.

David Fleetwood

Renton Highlands