The title of Councilman Bill Erxleben's (who's not running for re-election)
most recent letter to the Newcastle News was "City Councilman wants city to be left in good hands," but it could have been entitled "City Councilman wants Newcastle to be left in Bellevue's hands." I am sure that Newcastle didn't go through the long process of incorporation a couple of decades ago merely to present itself as suddenly mature enough to be the stepchild of a more prestigious neighbor. The last 19 years -- to use a baseball metaphor -- wasn't practice for merging with a Triple AAA team (at least I hope that wasn't the case). The last 19 years was finding our way in the world of self-representing cities and establishing this city as one of Washington's best. There is no financial crisis in Newcastle, no hint of bankruptcy and no overriding reason to become a part of any other city. No reason that could not have been found 19 years ago, anyway. Newcastle is a unique city and has no pretensions of being anything other than small, crafty and independent. However, I suspect the election for Position No. 6 this year will be the de facto referendum on whether we want to become an extension of Bellevue or not. Be wary of any candidate (or candidates) for Position 6, and there are sure to be more than just me, who chooses to be quiet about this issue. We will likely know where a candidate that doesn't state a position stands:
for annexation.
Don't be surprised if there will be one or two other positions (5 & 7) open without an incumbent running this year (the PDC filings are just not coming in, yet, except for mine), which may be fertile ground for those candidates who want to avoid the annexation issue this election year.
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Mark Greene, Candidate for Newcastle City Council, Position 6
(the anti-annexation candidacy)
[revised on 4/9/2013]
