Vote for those who know smart growth

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, October 4, 2005

The Snohomish City Council races have been identified as a battle between the good old boys and the anti-business women. This election has the potential to mark a turning point in the development of Snohomish and it is much more than a matter of gender.

Everyone wants to see the city flourish and grow. The issue isn’t growth or no growth. It is a matter of how we grow.

Many Snohomish business owners feel shackled by regulations. There’s nothing unusual about that. In our capitalist economy, a business owner must focus on profit. That’s what keeps a business alive, keeps money circulating and keeps people gainfully employed.

Which leads to the role of government. Our council members can’t be held responsible for selling anyone’s goods or services. They can be held responsible for creating an environment in which businesses have an opportunity to thrive. They also must be held responsible for creating an environment in which people can live and take pride in their community.

In my view, the business lobby would like to create a deregulated, unregulated, or self-regulated environment. This would provide a short-term boost for a select few, to the long-term detriment of the community at large.

The so-called “anti-business” candidates would create a more inclusive environment. Snohomish is known as a quaint, attractive town, a reputation that needs to be maintained and enhanced. There is no shortage of people with money in Snohomish and King counties and our businesses will have access to that money if people are attracted to Snohomish. Everyone wins, in the short term and the long term.

I urge Snohomish voters to think ahead, and vote for the candidates who will lead us into the future, not lock us in the past. Vote for Liz Loomis, Rebecca Loveless and Karen Guzak.

Tom Scott

Snohomish