Wonder why LRI is the only non-governmental ex-officio member of the SWAC?
Back in 1989 (LRI applied for the 304th and Meridian permit in 1989) the County Council adopted Ordinance 89-143. This ordinance added a 2nd business representative and changed the City of Tacoma position from that of a non-voting member to a full voting member. The Council also named LRI to be a non-voting member. The members on the council at that time were: Barbara Skinner, District 1Joe Stortini was the County Executive
According to an article in the Tribune dated April 4, 1989, County Executive Joe Stortini, councilmembers Paul Cyr, Barbara Skinner, Bill Stoner and Chuck Gorden accepted campaign contributions from LRI. So did then Tacoma Mayor Doug Sutherland. The present County Council needs to take a long, hard look at this practice of the "good old boy" system. LRI needs to be eliminated from its ex-officio status. Citizens need to insist the present County Council revise Ordinance 89-143. As a side, we were told at one of the SWAC meetings recently held that LRI didn't have voting power as an ex-officio member and the public has just the same privileges, but at that meeting, Jody Snyder, who was the ex-officio LRI member present, was given photos and papers from citizens presenting testimony along with the regular SWAC members and she was allowed to participate in the discussions after the meeting. The public is NOT given that privilege. This needs to change NOW.