Snohomish County Council races
Published 9:00 pm Sunday, September 9, 2001
Age: 47
Occupation: Council member, dairyman
Political experience: Snohomish County Councilman, District 1
Work experience: Incumbent; chairman, council operations subcommittee; vice-chairman, finance subcommittee; member, Board of Health; member, Puget Sound Regional Council; member, Agriculture Fish and Water Executive Committee; member, Dairy Inspection Program Advisory Committee; former member and chairman, Agricultural Advisory Board; former member, Agriculture Fish and Water Technical Committee. Dairyman/small business owner 18 years in Silvana. Registered nurse worked at Children’s Orthopedic Hospital, Seattle; Providence Hospital, Everett; and Cascade Valley Hospital, Arlington. Honorable discharge Air Force after four years service.
Personal experience: Provide foster care for area teens. Have hosted foreign exchange students. Member of Arlington Masonic Lodge, active statewide, too.
Top 3 issues: 1. Transportation: We need increases in capacity of critical roads and public transportation that achieves better efficiencies using existing facilities. 2. Growth: We need a more responsive and elegant adaptation of the Growth Management Act that will provide for the needs and vision of all in Snohomish County. 3. Economy: We need to protect our family wage jobs.
Why voters should pick me: As your councilman I have taken tough stands to protect the character of our communities and improve transportation. I will continue to work toward reinvestment and protection of our community. I will continue to learn of the problems we face. I am committed to this job. I will represent you.
Fun facts: I enjoy reading and working on our 1927 Model T truck.
Age: 36
Occupation: Pressman, Skagit Valley Herald
Work experience: I possess a good old-fashioned work ethic. I am skilled in motivating people and enjoy sharing in their successes. I consider myself a problem solver and have strong investigative skills. I am passionate about pride in workmanship.
Personal experience: I am in tune with the public sentiment that the council is not doing right by us. When taxes are going up again, and the council votes a pay raise for themselves, that is wrong. They have forgotten the people!
Top 3 issues: 1. Taxes: We live in one of the highest-taxed counties in Washington and yet we have the least to show for it. We must end wasteful government spending. 2. Traffic: The transportation department and city officials were “surprised” by the gridlock that occurred because of the major thoroughfare construction projects. Enough said? 3. Public indifference: I am dedicated to working for the people, not special-interest groups. I believe public trust can be rebuilt through government accountability.
Why voters should pick me: I am the candidate for anyone who, like myself, is dog-tired of seeing misspent tax dollars, gridlocked traffic and political promises that never materialize. I am the best candidate for the people because I’m one of their own. I identify with their frustration, and I’m willing to do something about it.
Fun fact: I find that this position is grossly overpaid. When elected, I will donate $10,000 for every year in office to charity.
Age: 49
Occupation: Certified Public Accountant, retired
Political experience: Mayor, Mill Creek, 1992-1993; member, Mill Creek City Council, 1988-1995; chairwoman, Snohomish County Charter; Review Commission, 1996; previous boards and commissions (Mill Creek): Park and Recreation, Municipal Court Study Committee, secretary Comprehensive Land Use Plan subcommittee, Fire District 7 and Joint Fire Board, Library Expansion Committee phase 2.
Work experience: Former practicing CPA
Personal experience: Member Board of Directors Girl Scouts Totem Council; past board member Northshore Chamber of Commerce; Northshore Youth and Family Services and American Contract Bridge League Board of Governors; completed UW wetland science and management program; mediation training.
Top 3 issues: 1. Traffic: Simple road projects should not take years to complete. Developer fees should be spent in the same neighborhood where the impacts occur. 2. Growth management: Is currently managing nothing. We cannot merely “hope” things turn out well. We must decide and then stick to the plan. 3. Taxes: You should not have to ask, “What are they doing with my tax dollars?” County government must be simplified and held accountable.
Why voters should pick me: The Legislature’s failure does not mean we can also duck our responsibilities. My mediation training will help me work with opposing groups to find practical and affordable solutions. Each day I will work to improve “livability” in our communities. Let me go to work for you.
Fun fact: Most unusual request while I was mayor: I assisted with the delivery of a litter of puppies.
Age: 47
Occupation: State representative, 44th District
Political experience: State representative, four terms
Work experience: Chairman of Local Government Committee in House of Representatives, seven years on the Municipal Research Council, vice-chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
Personal experience: Volunteer positions in the North Creek area, 18 years in the Washington National Guard.
Top 3 issues: 1. Growth management: Snohomish County growth is out of control. Infrastructure development of roads, parks, etc. have not kept pace with the vast number of new homes and apartments. 2. Transportation: Upgrading of roads has been poorly managed. We experience sitting at traffic watching the light change multiple times before we can make it through the intersection. 3. Budget policies: Mismanagement of funds and poor choices in allocation of county funds. Efficiencies in government are equated to good management and sound decisions in budget policies.
Why voters should pick me: County governments are required to locally carry out the policies developed by the state Legislature. The path for change must come through Olympia. My seven years experience in local government and budget development as a legislator brings a broad-based perspective for policy development, networking and new direction for Snohomish County.
Fun fact: I’m a devoted Mariners fan who attended games in the dark days when they averaged 13,000 fans per game; motorcycle rider.
Age: 28
Occupation: Marketing/advertising consultant
Work experience: My wife and I run a marketing and advertising firm, and many of our clients are political candidates. I have been involved in politics and government for years as an adviser to elected officials and candidates for public office.
Personal experience: Too often we are offered a false choice between two things we don’t want, such as higher taxes, or bad traffic or ruin the environment or devastate property rights. These aren’t choices we have to make. We can fix traffic without raising taxes, and we certainly don’t have to take away property rights to have clean water and pure air.
Top 3 issues: 1. Traffic: We shouldn’t have to choose between more taxes or less traffic. We already pay high taxes; we just need to make traffic a priority. 2. Public safety: The sheriff’s office is understaffed and overworked. Public safety should be funded first, then everything else. 3. Land use and the environment: We can keep our rights and freedoms, and protect our natural resources. Don’t let anyone tell you we have to make a false choice between the two.
Why voters should pick me: Our political process shouldn’t be a blame game, where each side points an accusing finger at the other and says, “It’s their fault.” We may not always agree, but we can solve every problem that faces us if we apply a little common sense and old-fashioned ingenuity.
Fun fact: Fly fishing, bow hunting. My wife and I coach two weekly drama classes for community youth, and write and produce a Christmas play every year.
Age: 58
Occupation: Manager
Political experience: Snohomish County Libertarian Party Chairman
Work experience: 30 years management and supervisory experience.
Personal experience: Snohomish County resident for 26 years.
Top 3 issues: 1. I believe the individuals in our free country should be allowed to do as they choose with their own bodies. 2. Private property is the basis of freedom. Property owners should be trusted to do the right thing with their property. 3. Taxing people out of their homes is a cruel way to treat families and the elderly. Taxing entities assume we all have excess discretionary income.
Why voters should pick me: 50-plus years of the Republicans and Democrats has gotten us into the situation we face. We need to break away from the idea that government should solve our problems. Government control is akin to parental control. The government must let go and let the people make their own lives and futures.
Fun fact: I enjoy exploring in my car, hiking and reading.
Age: 39
Occupation: Mechanical engineer in the air pollution control industry.
Top 3 issues and your stances on them: 1. Transportation: While the population has mushroomed, the antiquated roads in Snohomish County have a stranglehold on all of us. Yet there are literally millions of dollars earmarked for roads that sit unspent. 2. Public safety: The number of officers has fallen to dangerous levels especially in east county, where response times are frighteningly slow. The county is recklessly underserved by almost one-third the staff it should have. To reach the state average of 22 officers per 10,000 residents, we’ll need to add more than 238 positions during the next five years. 3. Taxes: Property taxes have risen a whopping 43 percent in the past three years in the north county. Much of that is due to increased permit and regulation requirements plus outdated policies approved by the County Council. We can’t eliminate taxes if we provide the services people need, but we can spend them wisely.
Why voters should pick me: Our way of life is threatened by an ineffective county government that hasn’t kept up with changing times. As an engineer, a father, a husband and a school board member, I am experienced and ready for the challenge. I’ll work hard to reduce traffic congestion, add more officers, support better use of tax dollars, and seek sensible land-use regulations.
Fun fact: I worked my way through Montana State University as a firefighter, UPS Teamsters union driver and as a first lieutenant in the Montana National Guard.
