Voters in Edmonds, Lynnwood, Woodway and the rest of Snohomish County Council District 3 will see 16 candidates on the November ballot for three positions on the Snohomish County charter-review commission.
Each of the county’s five council districts elects three commission members.
The 15 charter-review commissioners serve one-year terms every 10 years to review the county charter and propose possible amendments for upcoming ballots.
Candidates in District 3 recently sent short statements introducing themselves to voters. Here are those statements, in the order the candidates’ names will appear on the November ballot and in the voters’ pamphlet:
Randy Hayden: I have a very good working relationship with our county elected officials because of the six different boards that I serve on. It is time to update our Charter and move forward.
David Weston: No response
Natalia Fior: No response
Jared C. Karstetter Jr.: I’ve lived in SnoCo for 50+ years. I’ve been an attorney for 30 years representing police and corrections. I successfully won a Supreme Court case upholding the citizen’s right to amend their Charter through the Initiative Process. It’s time for SnoCo’s Charter to be adjusted to meet the needs of the people, not politicians.
Mike Arendt: Since I am in a wheelchair, I see Snohomish County differently than “able-bodied” people. I will make sure that the needs of everyone are considered in the future of Snohomish County.
Lisa Utter: I am an active volunteer, professional and policy maker in the Snohomish County. I will review proposals to the charter as an advocate for fairness, efficiency and making government easy to understand.
Brandon Richards: No response
Carin Chase: I view the County Charter as our fundamental governance strategy – a living document that should be periodically updated to serve our dynamic, changing, innovative county. I look forward to listening to citizens’ ideas.
Mike Cooper: I have lived in Snohomish County over 40 years. Being elected to state, county, city office and chair of the 2006 Charter Commission make me uniquely qualified to serve. I’d appreciate your vote.
Mark Young: No response
Jim Smith: Common sense leadership appears to be lacking on all levels of politics. I have a record of level headedness as a Lynnwood Councilmember, and intend to bring it to the Charter Review Committee.
Justin P. McMahon: I grew up in Snohomish County. In the past two decades I have watched our community grow and thrive, and I want to help it continue into the future. Please vote for me.
Dustin Goodnight: No response
Mike Luke: As a 20+year resident in the Lynnwood area, 12-year business owner in the Edmonds area and citizen of Snohomish County, I am qualified and called to serve to update our County Charter.
Marko Liias: After a decade of service in state and local government, I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. I’ll press for needed reforms that focus our county leaders on results, not more political infighting.
Geoffrey Thorp: No response
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
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