I was already prepared for the slander and mud-slinging for 2012, but I didn’t think we’d see it this year in Renton. I am tired of hearing Robin Jones’ attacks on Ed Prince. I know Ed Prince. Ed is an amazing, decent family man who overcame extremely difficult family challenges to become the excellent public servant he is today. He and his wife have hunkered down against Robin’s slanderous attacks and were prepared to weather the storm and stick to the issues, but I have seen the toll it has taken on both of them. Ed has spent years serving his community, doing actual WORK for Renton’s schools, for Renton’s Planning Commission, for Renton Rotary, and as a Renton Budget Adviser. All Ed has tried to do is talk about the issues, and Robin can’t hold a candle to Ed’s knowledge, experience, and dedication to Renton, so he goes on the attack instead. All I hear from Ed is Renton, Renton, Renton. And all I hear from Robin Jones is anti-Ed Prince attacks. I knew Ed when he lost his home, and he was devastated. I knew Ed when he was looking for a job, and he was extremely worried about supporting his family. I have seen Ed at his best and at his worst, and I can tell you this: on his worst day, at his absolute lowest, he is a bigger man and a better person and has more integrity in his little finger than Robin Jones does in his whole body. Only a truly desperate candidate attacks his opponent for not only hitting hard times, but for fighting and succeeding in coming out of them. What makes me sad is that people run negative attack campaigns because in the end, sometimes it works. Tell Robin Jones it won’t work in Renton. Ed Prince deserves our vote, and he will serve us significantly better than Jones on our Renton City Council.

Stefanie McIrvin

Renton