(Editor’s note: The following is a copy of a letter sent to to the mayor and Council of the city of Snoqualmie)

In 2000, Mayor Fletcher asked me to take a position on the Snoqualmie Library Board. His direction was to take a controversial subject (location of a library) and make the process and decision as to location as smooth as possible with little controversy. I felt the city needed something positive that would be a win-win situation for all. So, I accepted the job and was appointed in January 2001.

While on the board the following events occurred:

1), I was elected president of the board and remained in the position for all but three months until my term expired March 2006. 2), An initial King County Library System (KCLS) bond failed in 2001. 3), The board took a proactive position to work with KCLS to develop the statements for the second KCLS bond. 4), Site selection (option 1). 5), Second KCLS bond passed.

Prior to the bond election, I realized if the bond passed, we’d be competing with five other libraries in regards to order of build. The board convinced KCLS to start the process of site selection prior to the bond election in order to put Snoqualmie ahead in the process of the other five libraries.

This effort, by the board, not only put the Snoqualmie library high on the list in order of build, it put our library as number one to be built.

Now we started the process to design the Snoqualmie library.

After five years on the board and going through the events defined, my desire was to finish the process on the board and complete the design phase. Since I was an experienced member and enthusiastic about dealing with the completion of the library. I made known my position for re-assignment to the mayor and to council.

Imagine my surprise when Mayor Larson told me personally he wasn’t going to nominate me “because I would not be able to get approval from Council.” Therefore, to prevent embarrassment to me, he chose not to recommend me to council. The mayor refused to nominate me so the council wouldn’t have to consider my nomination, so I’ll never know what Council would have done.

Whose embarrassment are we preventing? Not mine. I’m embarrassed for this administration that deals so blatantly in personal and political maneuvering, and for any council member that supports it.

Tony Yanez

Snoqualmie