Published: Friday, October 7, 2011
Herald endorsement / Snohomish County Council, District 3
Wright has proven herself
Stephanie Wright entered her first election campaign for Snohomish County Council with a significant edge: incumbency. She was appointed to the District 3 seat 13 months ago, replacing Mike Cooper, who left to take an appointment as mayor of Edmonds.
Wright, a Democrat, has made the most of that time in office. She has worked hard to get up to speed on the many complicated issues the council wrestles with, proving that she's an effective listener and quick learner. Her background is in teaching, but she's clearly a good student.
We endorse her bid for a full four-year term representing the southwest corner of the county, a district that includes Lynnwood, Edmonds and Woodway.
Her Republican opponent, three-term Snohomish County PUD Commissioner Kathy Vaughn, is a strong candidate on paper, combining her public sector experience with many years in the finance, mortgage and construction industries. She doesn't, however, make a convincing case that she would be as capable on the County Council as Wright.
Both candidates correctly list economic development and jobs as the county's most important priority in the next four years, and both emphasize the need for county government to work with cities and the public/private Economic Alliance Snohomish County to recruit and maintain good-paying jobs.
Wright, who came to the County Council after serving three years on the Lynnwood City Council, has made strengthening the county's relationship with its cities a priority. She serves as vice chair of Snohomish County Tomorrow, the joint county/cities planning board, and understands the many challenges increasing annexations present to cities and the county.
She's a strong voice for effective transportation solutions, advocating transit-oriented development along main north-south corridors to help relieve congestion.
Transportation is one area where, in our view, Vaughn falls short. She seemed to suggest that Everett had been overlooked as a service area for Sound Transit light rail, which currently is planned out only as far as Lynnwood. Everett, however, has long been considered the next logical step in the build-out of light rail, pending voter approval of funding.
She also made a rather implausible suggestion for easing congestion along I-5 if it's still necessary in 20 years: building a second level of freeway above the current one. A viaduct along I-5 is hardly realistic -- financially, environmentally or aesthetically. Thinking outside the box is certainly to be encouraged, but still ... we would expect better reasoned ideas from such a seasoned candidate.
Wright, a Democrat, has made the most of that time in office. She has worked hard to get up to speed on the many complicated issues the council wrestles with, proving that she's an effective listener and quick learner. Her background is in teaching, but she's clearly a good student.
We endorse her bid for a full four-year term representing the southwest corner of the county, a district that includes Lynnwood, Edmonds and Woodway.
Her Republican opponent, three-term Snohomish County PUD Commissioner Kathy Vaughn, is a strong candidate on paper, combining her public sector experience with many years in the finance, mortgage and construction industries. She doesn't, however, make a convincing case that she would be as capable on the County Council as Wright.
Both candidates correctly list economic development and jobs as the county's most important priority in the next four years, and both emphasize the need for county government to work with cities and the public/private Economic Alliance Snohomish County to recruit and maintain good-paying jobs.
Wright, who came to the County Council after serving three years on the Lynnwood City Council, has made strengthening the county's relationship with its cities a priority. She serves as vice chair of Snohomish County Tomorrow, the joint county/cities planning board, and understands the many challenges increasing annexations present to cities and the county.
She's a strong voice for effective transportation solutions, advocating transit-oriented development along main north-south corridors to help relieve congestion.
Transportation is one area where, in our view, Vaughn falls short. She seemed to suggest that Everett had been overlooked as a service area for Sound Transit light rail, which currently is planned out only as far as Lynnwood. Everett, however, has long been considered the next logical step in the build-out of light rail, pending voter approval of funding.
She also made a rather implausible suggestion for easing congestion along I-5 if it's still necessary in 20 years: building a second level of freeway above the current one. A viaduct along I-5 is hardly realistic -- financially, environmentally or aesthetically. Thinking outside the box is certainly to be encouraged, but still ... we would expect better reasoned ideas from such a seasoned candidate.
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