On Tuesday, the Colorado Springs City Council will vote on the appointment of Kenny Kuniyuki. to the Pikes Peak Library District Board of Trustees. This vote will fill a long-vacant seat, one that has remained open for nearly nine months after the previous trustee’s term expired. The nomination comes from the Joint Appointment Committee, made up of two City Councilmembers and two El Paso County Commissioners, which is the legal and established process for these appointments.

Earlier this summer, Kenny was nominated for the same seat but did not receive enough of the City Council’s approval at that time. Since then, City Council has had ample opportunity to revisit his application and give it fair consideration.

This appointment process has stretched out for more than a year, and it is time to bring it to a conclusion.

Some opponents have claimed that Kenny is against reopening the Rockrimmon Library. That assertion does not hold up because his application was submitted before the closure was even announced. The negative feedback appears less about his qualifications and more about the fact that he is not the preferred candidate with some advocates for that branch.

This appointment is about more than one location. It is about the health and vitality of our entire library system. The Pikes Peak Library District serves hundreds of thousands of residents across El Paso County.

The Board of Trustees needs members who will look at the big picture by supporting equitable access to resources, strengthening literacy programs, and guiding a system that adapts to the needs of a growing community.

Kuniyuki brings precisely that perspective. With a strong financial background, he understands budgets and the importance of fiscal responsibility; skills that are critical for a library system that manages significant public funds. Just as important, Kenny homeschooled his children and relied on the library as an essential educational partner.

He knows firsthand how vital these institutions are to families across our region.

City Council should set aside parochial disputes and focus on the broader mission of our libraries. On Tuesday, the correct choice is to confirm Kenny Kuniyuki for the Pikes Peak Library Board of Trustees and let this important work move forward without further delay.

David Leinweber is an At Large member of Colorado Springs City Council.