3 council seats in Lynnwood contested

Published 10:55 pm Tuesday, October 30, 2007

LYNNWOOD — A pair of incumbents hope to protect their seats and a third seat is up for grabs on the Lynnwood City Council.

Longtime City Councilman Jim Smith is facing off against Christopher Boyer, a local minister, in the race for Council Position 7. Councilman Ted Hikel is being challenged by city planning commissioner Patrick Decker for his Position 6 seat.

Newcomers Stephanie Wright and Robin Dode are running for Council Position 5. The seat is currently held by Ed Dos Remedios, who was appointed in January 2006. He is not seeking re-election.

City Council President Loren Simmonds is running unopposed for re-election.

Winners of the races in Tuesday’s general election will serve four-year terms on the seven-member council. The council is responsible for making laws, adopting regulations and budgets, levying taxes and other duties. Council members are paid $18,600 per year.

Smith, 56, a small business owner who has served 20 years on the council, said he wants to pursue a standalone senior center for the city. He also wants to be a voice against tax increases, he said. Smith is the city’s longest serving council member.

“One thing we have learned is in an election you can never take anything for granted,” Smith said. “The proper terminology is ‘cautiously optimistic,’ but I feel confident my record speaks for itself.”

Chris Boyer, a pastor at Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Lynnwood, said he would bring new energy to the council seat. His background in nonprofit business administration would be an asset, he said.

Boyer, 47, said his top priorities would be to make sure the city’s town center is developed smoothly and to encourage construction of more housing.

“We’ve got the opportunity to create some wonderful places to work and to play and to make Lynnwood a real destination,” Boyer said.

Ted Hikel, who has nearly 16 years of experience on the council, said the council should be focused on annexations, improving public safety and developing Lynnwood’s city center.

Hikel, 69, said he hasn’t missed a council business meeting in nearly eight years.

“I think that’s important. It’s what the people are paying me for, and I feel that responsibility to be there,” Hikel said.

Decker, Hikel’s opponent, wants to focus on providing more affordable housing for seniors and promoting the city center project. He said he’s against tax increases, which make it difficult for seniors and low-income families to make ends meet.

Decker said the time he’s spent on the Lynnwood Planning Commission would help him on the City Council.

“I’ve been working with staff, the mayor and council on those issues for several years now,” he said.

Robin Dode, 44, a commercial banker, has spent years volunteering with the Edmonds School District and participating in the Lynnwood Rotary Club. She stresses the importance of developing a successful city center, as well as improving the relationships between government, schools and businesses.

“Like anything, a car runs better if all the parts of the car are working together, and the same is true of a city,” Dode said.

Stephanie Wright, 35, a teacher, believes the city must plan ahead for growth. If elected, she said she would pursue expanding fire and police services, moving forward with annexations and developing Lynnwood’s city center. She also wants to invest in parks and other community facilities.

“I’ll encourage responsible development that takes into consideration our housing needs without sacrificing our environment,” Wright said.