Mayor’s the people’s choice

Mayor John Combs, a lifelong Alaskan and Palmer resident, has led a life of public service with accountability and integrity, always putting the residents of Palmer first.

Having witnessed Mayor Combs serve Palmer with distinction, work cooperatively with our state Legislature and Governor Palin to bring important road, sewer and infrastructure projects to our community, I was shocked that Mayor Pro-Tem Tony Pippel sponsored a measure that would cut the mayor’s salary by more than half and strip most of the inherent authority of the mayor’s office.

The intended consequences of Pippel’s self-serving measure hands the mayor’s powers over to the city manager, who is beholden to the council, instead of leaving them in the hands of the voters who elect the city’s mayor. Pippel refuses to listen to Palmer voters who said loud and clear last October when they re-elected Combs. We want a mayor’s office with authority and power that represents the will of the people.

Ivy Frye

Palmer