My Record vs. My Opponents "Conflicts":
 

My Record – My record of participation during my previous stint on the council, including the number of votes taken, is unmatched.  By holding myself to the highest ethical standards, I “recused” myself from occasional council discussions but still participated in more council deliberations and council votes than any other council member during my tenure on the council.  I was able to set this standard because of my attendance record--I only missed one meeting in almost 11 years.    The accusation that I was not equally participating is false and misleading, as shown by my record.

Opponent's “Conflicts” - Both candidates in this race are local business operators.  I am a property manager, responsible to a variety of investor groups for the management of properties in the area.   Bill Allison operates a Jamba Juice store in nearby Covington.  We each could be faced with situations where  our professions could raise concerns about our ability to act fairly.  Our situations are different though, in that Bill’s business is competing with Maple Valley businesses and is responsible for some of the "retail leakage" that we are experiencing as a community.  Bill is in a situation where the promotion of a Covington business could cause losses to Maple Valley businesses, therefore, he could be suspected of acting in ways that would benefit his business to the detriment of in-city operations.  My business operates almost exclusively in Maple Valley, focusing on economic development and "nuturing" existing businesses.  Thus, my personal interersts are more in line with making Maple Valley's business community successful than are Bill's. 
    Are either of our situations unusual or inconsistent with service on a city council?  The answer is no, business operators are commonly elected to serve in local government positions and bring unique and valuable insights and experienced that are of benefit to the citizens.  My business background and involvement demonstrates that I have  a definite "stake" in the community and that I have many reasons to want to pursue positive change in Maple Valley.

We both all business people and we face similar issues.

What is Meant by “Conflict of Interest”?

“Other” Situations That Are Not Actual Legal Conflicts:

               Often times a councilmember may choose not to vote on a matter or not to participate in a discussion because of their involvement in the community.  This situation has come up many times for various members of the Maple Valley City Council, including myself.  Such situations are very common in small cities and many council members have to deal with it.  Examples where council members should remove themselves from a discussion could be group membership (Home Owners' Associations) or service as a board member in/for an organization that receives funds from the city (Community Center, Food Bank, Farmers Market).  Similarly, a council member should not participate when council action involves an individual with a personal relationship with a council member (family, close friend, business associate).  At times, a council member should not participate in a discussion because of where he or she lives or their employment/business status.  In most communities, these situations are common and should be expected.  Citizens should expect their council members to be active in the community; it would be of more concern if they were NOT involved in a variety of activities in their home town.

Conclusion

 The “appearance” of a possible “conflict” is inevitable in a small city and any business owner holding a city council position must deal with that situation.  During my previous service on the Maple Valley City Council, my record shows that I always did the “right thing.”  I consistently acted in the best interest of the community at large, regardless of the potential negative impact to the properties that I manage.  I have a proven record which demonstrates the highest ethical standards, consistent actions taken in the best interest of the city, and unmatched commitment and attendance.