A female mayor will bring independent political ideas to city

I was perplexed as to why The Seattle Times would run a Sunday front-page story on the 85-year gap the city has gone without a female mayor [“Why don’t we have a woman mayor?,” page one, Feb. 3].

I’m always amused at the perceived lack of diversity in the absence of evidence that there is a forced need for it. If a segment of the general population — women in this case — is less inclined to reach political office, then so be it.

Contrary to City Council President Sally Clark’s opinion that not having a female mayor for 85 years is at odds with the image of Seattle as a liberal/progressive city, that is a very anti-progressive view. The socioeconomic forces at work should let it play out. Seattle will likely have a female mayor again and when it does, maybe Seattle will be a city with a more independent political bent, God willing.

--John Allen, Sammamish