County voters to decide some important issues

By Jerry Cornfield

Herald Writer

Voters in Snohomish County aren’t rushing to return their primary ballots.

Roughly 26,000 of them — out of 390,000 countywide — filled out and sent in their choices as of Friday morning. That works out to a tad over 6.6 percent.

Sound low? It’s about the norm. Voters don’t find primaries in odd-numbered years too attractive, with turnout averaging around 29 percent, officials say. Two years ago it didn’t even reach that level, topping off at 24.5 percent countywide.

While this election may not seem all that vital, significant decisions will be made affecting pocketbooks and political leadership in most communities.

In Snohomish, Proposition 1 would increase the city’s sales tax by two-tenths of a penny, adding a dime to a $50 purchase. If passed by a simple majority, the hike would last a decade, generating an estimated $660,000 each year for resurfacing streets, fixing signals and improving a couple intersections.

Interestingly, even though taxes are a universal source of debate, no person or group offered a statement of opposition in voter’s pamphlet.

Around Index, the 297 registered voters of Snohomish County Fire District 28 are asked to open up their wallets.

Proposition 1 would raise $230,000 from the sale of bonds. The money would be used to buy and fix up property at 519 Avenue A for firefighter housing. Those bonds would get repaid through property taxes. This measure needs support of at least 60 percent of those voting to pass.

In Monroe, they’re paring the field for a seat on the school board and two on the city council.

The school board tussle is unusual because it features a husband and wife, Joel Selling and Nancy Truitt Pierce, challenging an incumbent, Debra Kolrud. There’s a fourth candidate, Scott Furrer. Voters will pick two to move on to November.

In one of the council contests, a candidate is urging people not to vote for him. Joey Santone, writing in the voter’s pamphlet, explains he’s moving from the city but decided too late to get his name off the ballot.

If voters follow his advice, Councilwoman Bridgette Tuttle and challenger Jason Gamble will advance to the general election.

School board races in Marysville, Edmonds, Everett and Monroe drew crowds of candidates and now voters must figure out whom they want put in charge of education policy for the children in their communities.

In Lynnwood, the primary could prove a referendum on the city’s use of traffic safety cameras and tax policy. Councilman Loren Simmonds faces challengers John Conley and Michael Moore, who’ve been critical of the incumbent’s support of the cameras and votes to raise taxes earlier this year.

Finally, in Arlington, where Mayor Margaret Larson is retiring, half a dozen people on the ballot want to be her successor. Voters will winnow it down to two for the November election.

It’s a big decision that appears to be stirring interest among the city’s 9,000 registered voters. Nearly 10 percent had returned their ballots as of Friday.

That’s not quite a rush but it puts them on pace for an above-average turnout.

Political reporter Jerry Cornfield’s blog, The Petri Dish, is at www.heraldnet.com. Contact him at 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

The primary is Tuesday Aug. 16. If you have questions regarding your ballot, contact Snohomish County Elections at (425) 388-3444.

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