Sue Stronk. Larry Johnson. Jessaca Jacobson. Sonny Putter.
With the exception of the last name, you’ve likely never heard of these people. But make no mistake, the Newcastle City Council knows who they are, at least they should.
They are examples of just a few Newcastle residents who have come to at least one council meeting in the past year to voice their opinions.
They are, essentially, examples of democracy in action, a far too rare scene witnessed in the perpetually empty Newcastle council chambers.
Stronk and Johnson are vocal Olympus residents speaking out against Puget Sound Energy’s power-upgrade project; Jacobson is a Newport Woods resident who voiced a community’s concerns about a new apartment complex; and Putter, a former Newcastle mayor, is the constant presence at recent meetings challenging the council’s Coal Creek Utility District purchase-sale agreement.
More importantly, though, they are all residents getting involved in the place they call home and, hopefully, working to affect decisions.
Whether they are successful or not remains to be seen, but at least they are taking a stand for what they believe in, something we’d like to see more of from residents at meetings.
Remember, your government leaders — city, county, state and federal — work for you.
If you want to have a stake in this city, take a stand. Attend meetings and public hearings to weigh in on decisions.