Publisher Of Yakima Valley Business Times Wants Elected Mayor

The publisher of the Yakima Valley Business Times believes now is the time for a change in city government. Publisher Bruce Smith says now may be the ideal time to create a change in the city charter to create an elected mayor position. He says in the past some council members were elected city wide and represented the entire city. "Now none of them is elected city wide. And the result is there's no elected official looking out for the overall good of the city. They're all trading playgrounds and sidewalks in their districts for their votes."
Smith says there's two ways to make it happen to get it on the ballot in November. He says it can be accomplished through a signature gathering campaign or a majority vote on the Yakima city council. There's no word on when such a campaign may begin but Smith says he's determined to see the issue on the November ballot.