From where I sit I’d say the Yakima City Council made the best possible choice for the open position vacated by Norm Johnson. After an initial three minute introduction that all the applicants were invited to participate in and then more in depth interviews with the 6 finalists, the council voted 4-2 for attorney, Sonia Rodriguez. Jim Winkenwerder and I came to the same conclusion when we taped our Other Side on TV show on December 22nd. (By the way you can see this show on Charter Cable channel 21 at 7 PM Mon, Tue, Wed Dec 29, 30, 31 and at 11 AM on Thurs, Fri, Sat, Jan 1, 2, 3 and at 4 PM on Sunday Jan 4th).
In addition to the 6 finalists there are another half dozen that have what it takes to serve on the council. The 2009 council elections would be very interesting if many of these people step up to challenge incumbents Micah Cawley and Bill Lover. We will be watching and encouraging this to happen as the residents of Yakima deserve stronger and less ideological leadership.
Yakima can take pride in the fact that 28 members of the community came forward to apply for this position. This shows that the future looks brighter with this strong depth of leadership and their willingness to serve.