Introductory statements from Fire District 1 candidates Schrock and Luke

Incumbent Fire District 1 Commissioner Richard Schrock and challenger Mike Luke will meet in the Nov. 3 general election.

Fire District 1 includes unincorporated areas of Snohomish County from Everett to the Snohomish-King County line. The cities of Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace and Brier get fire service from the district by contract, but residents of those cities don’t vote in district elections.

Schrock and Luke recently sent statements introducing themselves to voters. Here are their statements, in the order that their names will appear on ballots and in the voters’ pamphlets:

Snohomish County Fire District 1 position #2

Richard Schrock

Experience:

  • Elected Fire Commissioner (completing first term)
  • Board, countywide Emergency Radio System
  • Former Director, Washington State Department of Commerce
  • Former Chair, state Community Economic Revitalization Board
  • Career Communications Consultant for private businesses

Community service:

  • Lake Stickney Conservancy Board
  • Founding Board Member, Sno-King Watershed Council

My goal is to continue providing our superb firefighters and highly trained paramedics with the resources they need to save lives and property.

Facing significant tax revenue declines during Great Recession years, our fire department became more efficient by reducing administrative costs. We kept all our 12 stations open, fully-staffed with firefighters delivering excellent service.

Emergency 911 calls are increasing at 5 percent annually as our local population grows and gets older.

To maintain speedy, highest quality emergency responses, I support:

  • hiring more first responders for delivering quick service when stations are busiest. We recently hired 22 new firefighters and next year expect to add another 10 firefighters.
  • increasing readiness for local major disasters, including: earthquakes, mudslides, oil train derailments and brush fires in dry greenbelts that could spread to nearby suburban homes.
  • delivering Community Paramedic service to frequent 911 callers with chronic needs to help them access targeted treatment avoiding unnecessary, costly trips to hospital ERs.

Fire District 1 leads regionally in providing top-flight, nationally recognized EMS service. Continued support of our agency’s dedicated firefighters makes that possible and is much appreciated.

Mike Luke

I’m 46 and the last 20+ years have lived in Alderwood south of Lynnwood and attended Edmonds CC. For the previous 12 years I owned a neighborhood store in the unincorporated area of Esperance within Edmonds. I live and have done business in Fire District 1; it is home to me as well.

Fire District 1 exists to serve the citizens, and as such, it’s not only beneficial but essential that an ordinary citizen like myself serve on this governing board, to ensure our firefighters are properly equipped and trained to serve the citizens of our district with the lowest cost burden possible.

While I have many years of management experience, you’ll be happy to know that I have never been a government employee, consulted for a government agency, nor have I been the recipient of any government contract, all of this uniquely qualifies me. This provides our community with a candidate whose ultimate focus is on the interests of the citizens. As an ordinary citizen, I will apply a common sense approach to the business of our district, which is too often overlooked in government.

Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.

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