Sammamish Mayor Tom Vance is running for reelection to his city council position. He points to adoption of an “emergency” tree ordinance as one of his accomplishments as mayor.

The ordinance not only was too little, too late, but also it is illustrative of Vance’s lack of vision.

Prior to his election to the council four years ago, Vance spent four years on the planning commission, including two years as chairman. Vance missed an opportunity to recommend a strict tree-retention ordinance that would have had a meaningful impact.

It was only after developers so drastically clear-cut land that the uproar among citizens resulted in a stricter tree ordinance being written and adopted in December 2014. By that time, approximately 97 percent of the land in Sammamish had been developed or approved for development.

We need to elect a councilman who has vision, integrity and proven leadership skills.

Tom Hornish is a USAF veteran with 33 combat fighter plane missions during the first Iraq War, the former CEO of a public cable TV network, and a successful entrepreneur. In the last two years, as the president of SHO (Sammamish Home Owners, Inc.), Hornish demonstrated leadership in overturning abusive development implemented by King County and unwisely approved by the Sammamish City Council.

The city council needs Hornish’s drive and determination, not a passive, neglectful approach exhibited by Vance. Vote for Tom Hornish in the Nov. 3 election.

Patricia McCormick, Sammamish