This letter is in response to your editorial last week titled “Uncivilized council meeting?” regarding Snoqualmie Councilman Greg Fullington wearing a hat at the Snoqualmie City Council meeting and your criticism of the individual who questioned this behavior.

First of all, you were not there and did not hear the citizen’s comments or the context in which they were delivered. You did not see Councilman Fullington making faces behind the bill of his hat while other citizens were speaking. You did not hear him raise his voice at another citizen when, contrary to council etiquette, he interrupted their comments. When the citizen stated that this was citizen comment time and he should be listening, Councilman Fullington stated that he was the elected official here and inferred the citizen should listen to him.

Now Jim, you failed to mention any of these behaviors in your editorial, maybe because you were not there to see or hear them. It was not what was on the hat; it was the hat and the behavior being displayed under the hat.

Yes, the police issue is emotional and many people feel very strongly about keeping this important resource for our community. You were also not present at the March 14 council meeting when Councilman Fullington stated he wanted to get rid of the police department. It’s hard to view this as due diligence for fiscal responsibility when it is put in that context.

I also can’t believe that you would criticize someone for speaking their truth. You of all people should encourage and support the courage and fortitude it takes to stand up in front of a group of strangers and speak your opinion. I believe every citizen has the right and duty to speak their opinion and to hold their elected officials accountable for their actions and words – except maybe those who have lost that right because our dedicated and talented police officers have put them behind bars for violating our laws.

If this is not making much sense to you, I guess it’s because you just had to be there to hear citizen after citizen come forward and put their fears behind them and speak of the respect and commitment they have for our police officers. Uncivilized council meeting? I think it was one of the most civilized council meetings ever with citizens participating in the political process and holding their elected officials accountable for their actions and behavior.

Respectfully submitted with hat in hand,

Gil Tumey

Snoqualmie