(Editor's note: This is a copy of a letter sent to the Burien City Council.)

We all read with dismay the Times/News article on May 3, "Burien and Seattle 'recruit' at North Highline forum."

David Cline is in clear violation of the integrity of his acting city manager role as he actively recruits for the annexation of North Highline, well in advance of citizen input meetings which have not taken place yet.

The ghosts of Gary Long and Stephen Lamphear are stirred as we see David Cline already working off the assumption that the annexation will take place, and then setting up what can only be construed as token, phony attempts to hold citizen input meetings.

There appears to be no real intent to take the input from the people, actually listen to it, and incorporate it seriously into the decision making process around whether to consider this ill advised idea in the first place.

During the forum described in the Times/News article, Cline was trying to "outdo" Kenny Pittmann regarding who had been working on annexation the longest. He also was described as "looking like a college recruiter" for annexation.

What an absurd position for an acting city manager to take in a public meeting!

Let's send David Cline to follow in the footsteps of dearly departed Gary Long, namely out of the local Burien government completely. Please provide the city with some leadership which takes an objective, unbiased approach to the extremely high stakes gamble that the annexation question is.

We all await your response and are hopeful for your strong, thoughtful leadership on this question.

Horace Parker

Burien