Candidates for Mukilteo City Council Position 1 are (from left) Anna Rohrbough, James Yoo and Riaz Khan.

Candidates for Mukilteo City Council Position 1 are (from left) Anna Rohrbough, James Yoo and Riaz Khan.

Commercial flights are a big issue in Mukilteo council race

MUKILTEO — Three candidates are competing to replace Ted Wheeler, the Position 1 representative who has been on the City Council since 2014 and who decided not to seek re-election.

Riaz Khan, 48, ran unsuccessfully for the council in 2015 and for the Legislature last year. He is president of a group that plans to build a mosque in the city.

Anna Rohrbough, 44, is a leadership coach who has served on the boards of the Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce and the Sno-Isle Library Foundation.

James Yoo, 76, is a first generation Korean-American. He runs a local metal recycling company with 25 employees.

The city long has fought allowing commercial flights at nearby Paine Field. With the court battle concluded, Alaska Airlines has announced plans for daily flights starting next year.

Rohrbough said the city should start building influence to protect Mukilteo. The city needs to work with Snohomish County to try to mitigate issues, such as noise abatement and directing airfield traffic away from Mukilteo Speedway, she said.

Khan said residents “don’t want Sea-Tac here,” but agreed that the city should work on decreasing the noise created by the flights. He noted that Alaska Airlines is using new technology to reduce noise.

No flights should be allowed after 8 p.m. because “kids go to sleep at 8 p.m.,” Khan said.

Yoo said he opposes the commercialization of Paine Field. He said he thinks that if any airlines use the site, the city should ask the county for a share of the revenue generated by flights to alleviate traffic congestion.

Construction on the new $134.7 million ferry terminal is beginning this year, raising issues about traffic and parking at an already jammed waterfront.

Rohrbough said she’s been impressed by how the state ferry system has addressed city concerns. But the city faces a major issue in how it manages more parking and traffic, she said.

Khan said a proposed 500-car garage will not be enough and suggested adding off-site parking and a waterfront shuttle.

Yoo said the city’s young families need more space for recreation. He said he’d like to redevelop the waterfront area with less commercialization and more room for family activities.

The candidates say they’ve been hearing a lot from potential voters on social issues.

Khan noted that he organized a rally in April aimed at bringing the community together and promoting healing after the shootings of four young adults last year.

It showed people “what we can do as leaders,” he said.

Rohrbough said homelessness, panhandling, and drug abuse are topics she often hears about.

The city now contracts with Lynnwood for a medical services officer, who can help with issues such as overdoses, drug abuse, and resources for assistance. Rohrbough said she would like to see if it could be converted to a full-time position.

Yoo said he’s running for council because he thought it was time to devote his talents to public service.

“I want to be a champion for senior citizens in this town, and provide a good community for young people,” he said.

The city soon will get a new Boys & Girls Club. Yoo said he’d like to see the current building in Old Town converted into a senior center.

The two candidates with the most votes in the August primary will move on to the November general election.

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

More information on the candidates:

www.electkhan.com

www.Voteforannar.com

www.electjamesyoo.com

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.

Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, delivers the annual state of the city address Thursday morning in the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center in Everett, Washington on March 31, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
At Everett mayor’s keynote speech: $35 entry, Boeing sponsorship

The city won’t make any money from the event, city spokesperson Simone Tarver said. Still, it’s part of a trend making open government advocates wary.

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.

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.