Published: Friday, September 30, 2011
Herald endorsements / Marysville City Council
Close call: Hoen over Muller
This fall, Marysville voters will definitely elect two new City Council members. The only two contested races on the ballot are for open seats being vacated by current council members John Soriano and Lee Phillips.
One of those contests is particularly interesting -- the race for Position 6 between Roger Hoen and Stephen Muller. Both are highly qualified, with impressive resumes that include substantial public- and private-sector experience and show a comfort level with strategic planning and finance issues. Both also have long records of volunteering at leadership levels.
Hoen casts himself as a knowledgeable outsider to city government who would bring a fresh perspective; Muller is an experienced hand in city policy, having spent 12 years on the city planning commission, the last 10 as its chair.
Either candidate would bring solid credentials, and a clear desire to make the city a better place to live. In a close call, our endorsement goes to Hoen, largely for the vision he would bring to a city council that could benefit from an infusion of fresh, realistic ideas.
Hoen spent eight years on the three-member state Liquor Control Board. His private-sector experience is mainly in large-scale food and beverage operations.
He has studied Marysville's issues closely, and believes changes are needed. To improve traffic, he says the city must begin now to secure state and federal funding to create a new south portal to the city, with new ramps to and from I-5 and east-west access to Highway 529, all unrestricted by rail traffic. He would further enhance that gateway by involving citizens in selecting a new locally-based theme for the downtown business district, and incorporating it over a period of years.
Muller's vision includes continuing work to transform Marysville from a bedroom community into a more economically vital area with family wage jobs. He also talks about creating a marketable identity for the city, one that promotes both community pride and tourism.
In the other contested race, we endorse Rob Toyer over Scott Allen.
Toyer is a business owner, having opened his own tax-preparation firm last year, and has served on the city planning commission and the Lake Stevens Chamber of Commerce board of directors. He is a former U.S. Marine sergeant who served in Iraq.
Toyer says that responsible, sustainable budgeting that sets aside healthy reserves is key to the city's long-term success, and that wise infrastructure investments and simple, predictable permitting processes are critical to encouraging job growth and maintaining a high quality of life.
Allen, a hospital accounts-receivable manager, also has an impressive record of community service. He correctly identifies traffic congestion as a chief challenge for the city, but is short on workable solutions. Learning more details about such issues, perhaps by serving on the planning commission or in some other volunteer capacity, would make him a stronger candidate.
One of those contests is particularly interesting -- the race for Position 6 between Roger Hoen and Stephen Muller. Both are highly qualified, with impressive resumes that include substantial public- and private-sector experience and show a comfort level with strategic planning and finance issues. Both also have long records of volunteering at leadership levels.
Hoen casts himself as a knowledgeable outsider to city government who would bring a fresh perspective; Muller is an experienced hand in city policy, having spent 12 years on the city planning commission, the last 10 as its chair.
Either candidate would bring solid credentials, and a clear desire to make the city a better place to live. In a close call, our endorsement goes to Hoen, largely for the vision he would bring to a city council that could benefit from an infusion of fresh, realistic ideas.
Hoen spent eight years on the three-member state Liquor Control Board. His private-sector experience is mainly in large-scale food and beverage operations.
He has studied Marysville's issues closely, and believes changes are needed. To improve traffic, he says the city must begin now to secure state and federal funding to create a new south portal to the city, with new ramps to and from I-5 and east-west access to Highway 529, all unrestricted by rail traffic. He would further enhance that gateway by involving citizens in selecting a new locally-based theme for the downtown business district, and incorporating it over a period of years.
Muller's vision includes continuing work to transform Marysville from a bedroom community into a more economically vital area with family wage jobs. He also talks about creating a marketable identity for the city, one that promotes both community pride and tourism.
In the other contested race, we endorse Rob Toyer over Scott Allen.
Toyer is a business owner, having opened his own tax-preparation firm last year, and has served on the city planning commission and the Lake Stevens Chamber of Commerce board of directors. He is a former U.S. Marine sergeant who served in Iraq.
Toyer says that responsible, sustainable budgeting that sets aside healthy reserves is key to the city's long-term success, and that wise infrastructure investments and simple, predictable permitting processes are critical to encouraging job growth and maintaining a high quality of life.
Allen, a hospital accounts-receivable manager, also has an impressive record of community service. He correctly identifies traffic congestion as a chief challenge for the city, but is short on workable solutions. Learning more details about such issues, perhaps by serving on the planning commission or in some other volunteer capacity, would make him a stronger candidate.
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