More than 100 years ago, Redmond began as a farming and lumber center then became a suburban bedroom community and now is a diverse city with thriving neighborhoods and an internationally renowned business community.

Throughout, Redmond citizens have taken pride in their community with a clear vision of what they want to be and how to get there. Just look around you and by any standard there is no doubt that Redmond is successful while maintaining the key qualities that make Redmond, Redmond. Having a clear vision is essential to that success but there are other equally important elements.

It takes a long term and consistent commitment to that vision. Redmond has been committed to preserving our neighborhoods and focusing growth into two centers — downtown and Overlake where growth can be successfully accommodated.

Success requires investment. If others are asked to invest in Redmond, Redmond must be willing to invest. Redmond has invested throughout the community in many ways such as building a citywide parks system and a transportation system. Those investments and other has spurred others to invest and reinvest in Redmond.

To achieve Redmond’s vision, innovation is required. Redmond has been on the cutting edge in such efforts as protecting our environment, increasing the variety of housing opportunities and making budgeting and capital investment decisions transparent.

Partnerships must be forged to be successful. Whether within neighborhoods to enhance the neighborhood or in the region to build a transit center in our downtown or bring light rail to our community, successful partnerships have been created.

But above all these qualities the most essential element is leadership to make the vision real, to focus the community’s efforts, to steward the resources of the community and to create the atmosphere where innovation is celebrated and the key partnerships created. Without skilled and visionary leadership, all these other elements and any other advantages a community may have will fall short.

Each of us has been fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work with the Redmond community as its planning director in defining and implementing Redmond’s vision. We know the qualities and efforts it has taken for Redmond to become the great community that it is today.

Over the last eight years, the community’s vision has come to life and a key reason for that is the clear, consistent and steady leadership that John Marchione has provided and Marchione has the key quality of leadership that will continue to make Redmond the great city that it is. His re-election ensures that the qualities that have made Redmond great will continue. That is why we are strongly united in endorsing his re-election.

Kay Shoudy, former Redmond planning director

Ron McConnell, former Redmond planning director