February 1, 2007
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Dear Mt. Rainier Neighbors:
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I am planning on running for Mt. Rainier City Council in Ward 1.  Carol Gandee, the present Council member who would be up for election this year, has informed me that she does not plan to run for re-election.  The election is on May 7th.
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Let me introduce myself.  My wife, Jodi Beder, and I live in the blue house at the corner of Tilden and 34th St.  We bought our house in Mt. Rainier close to four years ago.
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I am presently employed as staff representative for the Communications Workers of America.  My wife, Jodi, is a professional cellist.  I have two grown children, Andy and Becky.  
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Though I have not lived in Mt. Rainier for many years, I have become more and more involved in our community's activities.  I am presently on the Board of Directors of the Gateway CDC, on the town's Cable Commission, and on the team negotiating the current collective bargaining agreement with the city's police officers.
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Frankly, we love Mt. Rainier.  We fell in love with the community as soon as we moved here.  We love the diversity.  We love the emphasis on arts in the area.  And we love the involvement of our neighbors in trying to improve the community.
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I would like to help move our community forward by contributing my time and efforts to the work of the City Council.  I pledge to work tirelessly for our town and to increase the communications between the Council and the residents of Ward 1.
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I know I have a lot to learn both from my neighbors and from the Council members.  Between now and the May election I am planning on visiting many of you  to get  input as to what the Council should and should not be doing.  I would like to know your thoughts on how Mt. Rainier could become a better and more vibrant community.
<p>I have a few thoughts myself:
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<li>A top priority has to be the development of the Rhode Island corridor. 
<li>We have to keep our community diverse.  A place where both renters and owners can co-exist.  We must insure that our town stays affordable for working families.
<li>Over 50% of our residents live in rental units. Yet we hear very little from them. We must seek to get them more involved.
<li>We need to partner with the other communities in our area.  We need to see how we can share resources.  We're too small to do everything on our own.
<li>We have to respect our city's employees while insuring that we can live within our budget limitations.
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If you have any thoughts on what the Council should be doing, please send me an <a href="mailto:jtarlau@cwa-union.org">e-mail</a> or give me a call.
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I hope to meet as many as you as possible in the next few months.
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Sincerely yours,
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Jimmy Tarlau