Traffic, development are big issues in Edmonds election

EDMONDS — Edmonds voters had better study up.

There’s six candidates running for three contested City Council races. Local voters are quizzing candidates about issues such as how to solve the city’s downtown traffic jam caused by train and ferry traffic, development and growth issues.

In the Position 2 race, two candidates are running to fill the unexpired term of former City Council member Strom Peterson, who was elected to the Legislature last year. Mike Nelson was appointed by the council in March to temporarily fill the seat, selected from a group of 10 applicants.

He is a member of the city’s advisory committee working on a proposed solution to the traffic problems caused by the convergence of ferry and train traffic near the city’s waterfront area. It’s a topic that Nelson said voters have brought up frequently as he campaigns.

Voters also are concerned about the number of coal and oil trains coming through the city, he said.

Both business owners and residents have talked about the need for more downtown parking, he said. That’s one byproduct of the increase in retail sales, he said. In the 12-month period ending in August, sales tax revenue totaled $4.3 million, an increase of $558,697 over the previous year.

Nelson is being challenged by Al Rutledge, a frequent candidate for public office who has lived in the city since 1986. Rutledge said he wants to maintain the city’s current building height limits, increase funding for public safety and encourage business development along Highway 99.

Rutledge said he supports the Edmonds Crossing project, a proposal to move the ferry terminal to the south end of the city, that was scuttled by the recession. Rutledge said he thought Edmonds would not be affected if Fire District 1 takes over fire services in neighboring Lynnwood. Fire District 1 provides Edmonds’ fire services.

Position 5

Two political newcomers, Alicia Crank and Dave Teitzel, are vying for the Position 5 seat, which opened when council member Joan Bloom decided not to seek re-election.

Crank said her interest in running for the council began shortly after her move to Edmonds in July 2014. She previously lived in California and led the Leadership Mountain View program, part of the local Chamber of Commerce.

Crank said she’s interested in the issues of density and housing affordability, both for renters and homeowners. “We know the area will grow in the next 10 to 15 years,” she said. “I want to make sure Edmonds makes some really good decisions on where that density belongs,” such as along Highway 99 and Edmonds Way, she said.

Crank said she would like to see more opportunities for the council to meet with the public by adding more neighborhood meetings. Cities that have made such a change find that it helps residents feel more connected to their council member, she said.

Teitzel said he would like to see the city diversify its economic base, which now is disproportionately based on car sales. That would allow the city to avoid cuts to city services during economic downturns, he said.

Teitzel said he would like to see hotels that could accommodate small conventions and meeting space come to the city.

Upgrades to the city’s fiber optic network could encourage economic development, he said. The network is underutilized and there isn’t sufficient backup for unexpected service disruptions, he said. Upgrades would cost roughly a half million dollars, he said.

More than 20 percent of Edmonds residents have ethnic backgrounds other than Caucasian, Teitzel said. And in parts of the city, people feel geographically disconnected. If elected, Teitzel said he would invite other council members to meet with these groups “so we can hear their concerns directly from them.”

Position 7

This race has incumbent Lora Petso being challenged by Neil Tibbott. Petso, who has served nine years on the council, said she supports regulating building heights.

“My position is that we can accommodate growth within our current building limits,” she said. “We don’t need to go up and risk blocking views,” she said. “There’s always a push to have taller buildings in Edmonds.”

Petso said she opposes increasing car tab fees for a Transportation Benefit District, which raises money for local transportation projects. She said she would like to see increases in some services, such as the community paramedic program, providing assistance to people in their homes before there’s an emergency that requires a call to 911.

Petso said she also would like to restore some of the police department cuts made during the recession, but the chief should decide how the additions should be used.

Tibbott was one of the 10 people who applied for the opening on the City ouncil earlier this year. If elected, he said he hopes to offer a different kind of leadership than Petso. Tibbott, who serves on the city’s planning board, that he would attempt to bring people together with creative solutions.

The city developed its strategic plan for city priorities with input from 2,500 residents, he said. Tibbott said one of his priorities is to see the redevelopment of the city’s senior center. A campaign is now underway to pay for building a new $10 million building. Its uses will be expanded to be both a community center and a senior center, Tibbott said.

“It’s important for people to know I’ve lived in Edmonds for more than 15 years,” he said. His wife is a teacher in the Edmonds School District. “We’re very invested in the city and look forward to doing some good things in the future,” Tibbott said.

Mayor Dave Earling is running opposed for another term and as are City Council members Diane Buckshnis and Thomas Mesaros.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com

Position 2

Name: Mike Nelson

Age: 40

Experience: Attorney, executive director SEIU, Washington State Council

Website: votenelson.org

Name: Al Rutledge

Age: 75

Job: Retired; formerly ran home delivery business

Website: None

Position 5