Fireworks will light up the sky atop Yakima’s Capitol Theater at midnight Monday when 2007 will come to a colorful and nostalgic end along with the political careers of Yakima City Council members Ron Bonlender and Susan Whitman.
Also exiting the Valley scene will be these other notable politicos: Union Gap Mayor Aubrey Reeves, Granger Mayor David Leach, Sunnyside Mayor Ed Prilucik, Tieton Mayor Norma Jean Joiner and Prosser Mayor Linda Lusk.
Leaving office too are these long-serving city council members: Allen Schmid of Selah, Al Hubert of Toppenish and Toni Webb of Union Gap.
Bonlender suffered a tough loss in his re-election bid as did Reeves, who missed the general election runoff by one vote. Water issues figured in the departure of mayors Joiner and Lusk while complaints about the police department caused voters to topple Leach.
However, let’s not revisit last fall’s campaigns, but rather salute the contributions of those elected officials who served, desired strongly to continue, but were denied by voters for whatever reasons.
Instead, let’s hoist a full glass or brimming tankard in their honor, watch the rockets brighten downtown Yakima and march bravely into the New Year with an untroubled heart – as difficult as that might be.