So here comes another attempt at changing community council rules. Yes, I’m biased. I served for 15 years on the Bellevue’s Sammamish Community Council, and it was, sadly in my mind, voted out of existence. But, it was done so by the people living within its boundaries.

We often not-so-jokingly referred to our most important mission as protecting its residents from the Bellevue City Council. The idea that a resident who doesn’t have something.i.e., a community council, doesn’t want anybody else to have one, either, is difficult to sustain. I have no doubt that if residents of the entire city are allowed to vote, the East Bellevue Community Council will join the small list of government ideas that actually worked well, but couldn’t survive what amounts to jealousy by others.

I agree with those who say the best government is the most local government. I have argued in public meetings and in television interviews for the continuance of community councils, and would welcome a change in the law that would allow more to be created. That’s just the opposite direction from where we seem to be heading.

Don Riggs, Bellevue