Everett candidates looking to future
Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, September 4, 2001
By Theresa Goffredo
Herald Writer
EVERETT — Reshaping how Everett looks and grows economically are among the goals of the three candidates running for Everett City Council Position 1.
Political newcomers Mary Ehrlich and Layton "Chip" Donaldson are vying for the four-year council spot held by incumbent Frank Anderson. The two top vote-getters in the Sept. 18 primary advance to the general election Nov. 6. All council positions are at large, and each council member earns $18,000 a year.
The 57-year-old Ehrlich, who operates a bed and breakfast with her husband, believes the city needs to reclaim Everett’s quality of life by using a common-sense approach to development.
"The real challenge is how we absorb density in the urban areas, not building out-of-scale buildings or those which don’t fit with the neighborhood," she said.
And as a business owner, Ehrlich said she understands the importance of enhancing Everett’s waterfront, allowing more public access while improving the natural environment.
"Our guests exclaim over and over what a wonderful environment we have, and we have to try to help shape that future of the city," Ehrlich said.
Donaldson also plans to take an "intelligent development" approach as the city grows.
"I’d like to see more architecturally appealing buildings going up. Now, there’s no design standard," he said.
An electrician out of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 191, Donaldson, 37, also believes in keeping good-paying jobs at Everett’s waterfront as the emphasis continues on more public access to the area.
"If anybody was to buy up the property like the city is doing with the special events center downtown, that’s roughly 1,500 jobs lost down at the waterfront," he said.
"We can have more access to the waterfront, but you need to find a happy medium. The city is dear to my heart, and I want to make sure everybody has the right to enjoy it."
Anderson has been a council member for 12 years. A small-business owner, Anderson, 62, said he wants another four years to help the city’s future economic development by courting more high-tech firms here.
"I’m very interested in clean, good-paying family wage jobs in Everett," Anderson said. "We cannot rely on Boeing completely. They have their ups and downs."
A retired firefighter, Anderson is keen on public safety and supports two police officers for every 1,000 people in Everett. For six years, Anderson has been reappointed to the National League of Cities Public Safety and Crime Prevention Steering Committee.
"The downtown was a challenge for me when I first got on the council because there were vacant buildings and dirty windows, and that’s not the case anymore," Anderson said.
You can call Herald Writer Theresa Goffredo at 425-339-3097
or send e-mail to goffredo@heraldnet.com.
