Open apology to Mayor Cooke

Published 5:10 pm Tuesday, October 27, 2009

I offer my sincerest apology to Mayor Cooke. In a public statement I made at the Scenic Hill Neighborhood Council Candidate Forum, on Thursday, Oct. 15t at the Senior Center.

I referred to bad past practices by the city of Kent. I failed to convey they were the practices of a FORMER administration, not Mayor Cooke’s.

Someone approached me after the forum wanting to know why I thought Mayor Cooke’s administration was so bad. This is when I realized I had not been clear in my statement. I made this statement in a public forum, so, I feel, I owe Mayor Cooke a public apology.

I, in fact, think that Mayor Cooke has done a superior job of making city government more accessible and responsive. I applaud the hiring of Toni Azzola, neighborhood program coordinator/ liaison. Toni does an awesome job of connecting the neighborhoods! My own North Park Neighborhood Council deals on a regular basis with the City of Kent through Toni. Through the program, we have also come together as neighbors and community. Kudos!

P.S. I like Kent Station too!

Pam Newcomer

Kent