EVERETT — At least one of the applicants Rich Anderson beat to win his Everett City Council appointment last fall is poised to challenge him at the polls.
Judy Tuohy, best known as the director of the nonprofit Schack Art Center downtown, said she’s focusing her campaign on public safety. Tuohy said she’s reacting to an issue she’s witnessed first hand and heard about from potential voters.
“I want to help the neighborhoods deal with the safety and the petty crime and the impact that the homeless have on businesses and neighborhoods,” she said.
Anderson and Tuohy are vying to serve the final year of an unexpired term. The council’s Position 7 was vacated in November when former Councilman Shannon Affholter resigned to take a job leading the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties.
A dozen people applied to replace Affholter. Anderson locked up support for the appointment on the strength of his financial know-how. For the past 30 years, he’s been a partner at Everett accounting firm Hascal, Sjoholm and Co.
Tuohy points to budgetary experience of her own, running Schack and raising $6 million to build the center’s facility.
As it stands, only one of Everett’s seven council members is a woman. Tuohy never made gender the focal point of her bid, but the council’s choice of a man over a qualified women led to strong criticism from some people who are active in city politics.
Anderson lives in Everett’s Northwest Neighborhood, Tuohy near Forest Park.
Both have strong ties to the city’s political power circles. Fellow 1972 graduates of Everett High School, they’ve also been acquainted for a long time.
The official candidate filing period runs through Friday. Anderson submitted his paperwork to the Snohomish County auditor and Tuohy on Monday said she plans to soon. Both are actively raising money. By Monday, Anderson had reported nearly $20,000 in the bank and Tuohy about $9,200, according to state campaign finance records.
The primary election is scheduled Aug. 5, the general election Nov. 4.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
