Edmonds council candidates have different visions

Published 11:22 pm Wednesday, October 24, 2007

EDMONDS — Voters in Snohomish County’s second-largest city soon will decide the winners of three contested races for Edmonds City Council.

Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, 48, is running against D.J. Wilson, 32, for City Council Position 5 — the seat left open by Councilwoman Mauri Moore, who is running for mayor.

Position 6 incumbent Richard Marin, 62, is defending his seat against a challenge by Stephen Bernheim, 52. Meanwhile, Dave Orvis, 39, the incumbent in position 7, is facing off with Strom Peterson, 39.

Edmonds City Council President Peggy Pritchard Olson is running unopposed for re-election.

The winners will serve four-year terms on the seven-member council. The group passes laws and sets policy for the city of 40,560 people. Edmonds has 271 full-time employees and a budget of $70.6 million.

Fraley-Monillas, who helps take care of children and adults through her job with the state Department of Social and Health Services, said she wants to preserve the small-town feel of Edmonds.

“I honestly think people should vote for me and not my opponent because I have the best interests of the city in mind,” Fraley-Monillas said.

Her opponent, Wilson, said his past experience in public service gives him the background to serve on the City Council. Wilson, a business owner, co-founded a citizens group that opposed an early proposal to build the Brightwater sewage treatment plant in Edmonds,

“I’ve got a great background in making government work for people,” Wilson said.

Marin, a retired advertising executive and Navy reserve captain, said people should re-elect him because of the regional influence he’s earned by representing Edmonds. He said he’s proud of the City Council’s recent work.

“I’m looking forward to be able to do some significant work in the area of economic development,” Marin said.

Bernheim, a lawyer, wants to promote sustainable growth throughout the city. The city should also do what it can to alleviate global climate change — encouraging the construction of buildings that use less electricity would be a good start, he said.

“We need to start doing more about that on the local level, especially in conserving energy use and waste, and driving less,” Bernheim said.

Orvis, a software engineer, wants to make neighborhoods safer for bicyclists and pedestrians if he’s re-elected. He wants to keep the current restrictions on building heights in the city, he said.

“I think that’s the dominant issue,” Orvis said.

His opponent, Peterson — known for his business, The Resident Cheesemonger — said his top priority is to promote environmentally friendly development in Edmonds. He said he has no desire to change the current restrictions on building heights.

“It’s always tough to run against an incumbent, but we’re getting really great feedback when we’re out knocking on doors, or when people come into the shop,” Peterson said.

City Council members are paid a monthly stipend of $600, with up to $400 extra for attending at least eight meetings each month. The City Council president is paid an extra $200 per month.

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.