LETTER: The Bear Creek restoration project was much more than Marchione's doing

A Redmond resident wrote a  September 11 Letter to the Editor saying that “ John Marchione single handily convinced our state representatives to find money for the recently completed $10 million restoration project on lower Bear Creek.”  This statement is a complete misrepresentation. 

Here’s how it played out:  A citizen sent pictures of flooding on 520 to Finance Chair Representative Ross Hunter.  Councilmembers Kim Allen, Richard Cole, and Nancy McCormick traveled to Olympia to lobby Ross for funding of the lower Bear Creek restoration.  Ross Hunter was impressed by the pictures and the lobbying and called Representative Deb Eddy who contacted the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for funding.  Councilmember Hank Myers also had a long conversation with WSDOT.  John Marchione may have had some input at that point – I don’t know – but the accomplishment involved more than his sole participation.  The citizen’s Letter also erroneously stated the Bear Creek restoration was a $10 million project when in fact it was a $12 million dollar project with the City of Redmond contributing only $2 million.  The citizen slanted his Letter to favor Marchione’s campaign.  We should give our councilmembers and state representatives credit where credit is due. The Bear Creek restoration project was much more than Marchione’s doing. 

Pam and Bob Yoder

Redmond