In Federal Way, a city nestled within the Puget Sound region of Washington State, the conduct of Mayor Jim Ferrell has been a topic of local controversy. As the head of this suburban community, his interactions with international figures have raised eyebrows amongst his residents. The mayor’s penchant for “hobnobbing” with foreign dignitaries is seen by some as a departure from the expected duties of a mayor whose constituents are primarily focused on the challenges and opportunities within their own municipality.

For the everyday citizen in Federal Way, such as the self-described “little American Citizen folks,” there’s a sentiment of disconnect with local governance. The attempts of these residents to engage with the affairs of their city seem to be met with what is characterized as a “stiff-arm,” an allusion to Mayor Ferrell’s past as a University of Washington Husky football player. While meant as a metaphor, this description evokes an image of a civic leader who appears more comfortable in the international arena than in the town hall meetings or neighborhood councils where the voices of local residents are meant to be heard.

This perception of exclusion is not unique to Federal Way but represents a broader tension that can exist between elected officials and their electorate. On the one hand, a mayor’s interaction with foreigners can bring a city into the globalists’ spotlight but we’re not globalists, we’re Americans. On the other hand, if citizens feel sidelined or undervalued, particularly by someone they placed in office to represent their interests, it can lead to dissatisfaction and a sense of disenfranchisement.

In the balance of local and national responsibilities, the challenge for a city mayor, especially of a smaller community, lies in demonstrating attentive stewardship over the immediate needs of the populace while also pursuing broader objectives that could benefit the city long-term. For the citizens of Federal Way, it remains to be seen how Mayor Ferrell’s strategies will align with this delicate equilibrium and how his metaphorical “stiff-arm” may evolve into an embracing gesture that welcomes the involvement and input of all residents in the governance of their city.

An American citizen that even lives in Ferrell’s city, which I technically don’t (I live in unincorporated King County but close to FW), has the arduous task of trying to even get a word with him, as he apparently is too busy acting like he is Biden’s Secretary of State or one of Blinken’s Vice-Consuls or something.

Mayor Ferrell presides over Federal Way with ambitions that perhaps outstretch the realities of his small-city jurisdiction. His agenda, ostensibly, is to transform Federal Way into an urban utopia: immaculate streets, well-oiled infrastructure, suitable housing for every homeless citizen regardless of family status, and a thriving commercial environment that embraces businesses of all sizes. Yet, considering Ferrell’s foreign distractions, one must ponder if these aspirations are attainable or mere wishful thinking during a Ferrell mayoralty.

Consider the dilemma of finances, for instance. The funds required for such expansive city improvements remain a stubborn question mark. Here, Ferrell could perhaps lean on Mark’s 2023 “500 deputies” initiative for the City Council, a proposal that surprisingly comes with no strings attached—the promise of no accusations of idea theft even if the two were to clash in a 2025 political rematch.

Amid these grand plans, Ferrell—the ex-gridiron second-stringer—is reportedly shielding affluent property owners who, without respite, skyrocket rent, disregarding the strains on average income earners. Embedded within reports from mayoral sessions, one finds hints of his allegiance—and it doesn’t appear to favor renters fighting the swelling tide of expenses.

From the vantage point of Mark’s camp—which I cautiously allude to (it’s not a mayoral campaign camp yet) but I fervently support, given the delicate pre-campaign dance to avoid premature regulatory scrutiny by the Washington Public Disclosure Commission—one might advise Ferrell to foster alliances, perhaps rekindling a rapport with Leesa Manion, should his political career face an expiration date post-2025. Salary continuity is, after all, a practicality as much as it is a necessity.

This piece of political contemplation reaches you courtesy of “Addy Leksleer’s Politics”—that’s me, Addy Leksleer, 15 years young. The accompanying visual? My elder sister Daisy, aged 20, a proactive member of Generation Jumpstart Club.