One contested race, fireworks ban on ballot in Marysville

MARYSVILLE — There is one contested race for the Marysville City Council on this year’s ballot, pitting incumbent Councilman Rob Toyer against newcomer Clarence Shaw.

Mayor Jon Nehring and council members Stephen Muller and Kamille Norton are running unopposed for re-election to their respective positions. Marysville School District directors Mariana Maksimos, Pete Lundberg and Tom Albright are also running unopposed for re-election.

Rob Toyer was elected to position 5 on the City Council four years ago after serving a year on the city’s planning commission.

The city, he said, wasn’t in good financial shape four years ago, but that’s since changed.

“We’ve been able to stabilize our finances and really do a lot of economic development in the city,” Toyer said.

The city has opened a new spray park in Comeford Park, begun work on a new trail on the city’s waterfront, enacted a Transportation Benefit District to pay for road repair, and secured $100 million in transportation money from the Legislature.

The next four years will be focused on downtown revitalization, he said, including extending trails to the Qwuloolt Estuary.

Toyer, who sits on the Marysville Fire Board, would still like to pursue a regional fire authority, but those talks stalled earlier this year. It may be that the city pursues a city fire department or that things will be left the way they are, but he still would like to build a larger authority.

“It’s definitely restructuring the fire department,” he said.

Clarence Shaw moved to Marysville four years ago from Monrovia, California, where he served one term on the city council and a partial term on the school board there.

Shaw, who recently retired from the U.S. Army Reserve, said that the city wasn’t as strong economically as it ought to be.

“We don’t have the areas where we can walk and dine and shop. We need that foot traffic to draw revenue downtown,” Shaw said.

“It would be perfect to have an antique district, if you will,” he said, citing the city of Snohomish as an example of a city with a lot of foot traffic.

He said the council should be looking to attract business incubators or perhaps a technical school to Marysville.

The council should be building stronger relationships with the school district as well as helping local businesses, even if it is just to spruce up downtown.

“If you look at our little strip malls, I think we can do a better job in terms of working with our local merchants,” Shaw said.

Residents in Marysville will also be voting on an advisory measure to ban the possession, sale and discharge of fireworks within the city limits. Fireworks are currently legal in the city and under state law, but there were a rash of brush fires over the July 4 weekend and two Marysville residents lost fingers due to fireworks.

Proposition 1, if approved, would recommend the Marysville City Council ban fireworks, although the measure is nonbinding and the results will not change the law.

Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.

Rob Toyer

Age: 34

Experience: one term on the City Council, one year on the planning commission, owner of Toyer Wealth Management in Lake Stevens. Also on the board of Marysville-Tulalip Chamber of Commerce, the board of the Marysville Fire District, and is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

Website: robtoyer.com

Funds raised: $1,000 (none spent)

Clarence Shaw

Age: 53

Experience: one term on Monrovia, Calif., city council and one term on Monrovia Unified School Board. Sits on the Snohomish County Solid Waste Advisory Committee, is active in the American Legion in Marysville, and is a retired U.S. Army Reserve Major.

Website: none

No campaign fund raising has been reported.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.