Getting to know the Lynnwood Mayor and City Council members

Published 11:57 am Thursday, February 21, 2008

LYNNWOOD — What makes the Lynnwood Mayor and Council members get hot under the collar or makes them laugh ‘til their sides’ hurt?

These questions and more were asked of them recently.

Mayor Mike McKinnon, 54, is the husband of Letha and father to Erin (Livingstone), Stacie (Haworth), Colin and Dale McKinnon and grandpa to two granddaughters (born on the same day one year apart).

The mayor’s hobbies, he said, consist of being with his two grand daughters and volunteering at church.

While being mayor is a full time paid position, McKinnon has had his own accounting practice in Lynnwood since 1975. With the help of his daughter Stacie who manages the business, he still continues that practice part-time on the weekends.

McKinnon said that he thinks the most important issue facing Lynnwood right now is “balancing the budget. For six years in a row our operating expenses have exceeded our operating revenues,” he said.

What makes the mayor laugh like nothing else is his granddaughters, good times with his friends and “council meetings,” he said. Adding, what frustrates him is “not being able to do all that I would like to accomplish.”

If you want to know if the mayor has any pet peeves—he said you’d need to ask the one who knows him best, his wife Letha.

McKinnon would like the citizens to know he really loves being your mayor and working for Lynnwood— “How can I help you?” he asks.

Council president Jim Smith, 51, lives with his three daughters and (as of Sept. 7) soon to be wife, Sherry.

Smith is a licensed pilot and loves to fly planes, build computers and travel on his spare time. Currently, outside of the City Council, Smith is busy raising his girls and he also has a few business projects in the works, he said.

For Smith the most important issue for Lynnwood right now is “learning to live within our budget constraints. The city should develop a budget without raising unnecessary taxes, and live within that budget… just like we all have to do with our personal finances.”

If you want to get a giggle out of Smith —put on some Leslie Nielsen or other “dry, pun-like humor,” he said. Adding, “politicians” are what frustrates him the most.

Smith has two pet peeves: “People taking advantage of other people and misrepresentations in political ads and endorsements.”

Smith would like the Lynnwood citizens to know “I have been blessed with a great, loving family. I have appreciated the 15 years I have been allowed to serve the community.”

Council member Don Gough, 51, is husband to JoAnn Gough and father to Justin and DeAnn. Gough loves going to all levels of baseball games, and he likes to read and watch movies, “especially the history channel.”

Outside of being a council member, Gough, a general practice attorney, has his own business in Lynnwood.

According to Gough, the most important issue facing Lynnwood right now is “our city needs to continue building a strong foundation for quality services based on our city-wide goals and priorities, and to continue efforts of improving our ‘customer service’ such as through our city survey, and increasing public involvement.” For Gough, it is “a simple good joke” that makes him laugh out loud.

And what is most frustrating, “It’s not really frustrating but knowing the challenge of the great potential of our city and its citizens, and the amount of positive hard work and good cooperation from all of us needed to help make a great future for our city, and then linking that vision of a better future tomorrow to real action today.” He added, he doesn’t have any pet peeves.

Gough would also like the citizens to know, “I was always taught by my parents that if you see a problem, or how something can be done better, you have a responsibility to get involved, propose and work hard for solutions. I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve our city. I strive to maintain an integrity of vision, ideas, action, and the willingness to stand up for Lynnwood’s interests. I’m not always successful, but I continue to try and improve.”

Council member Ted Hikel, 64, has been married to his wife Beverly for 32 years. They have two sons, T.R. and David.

Hikel likes to read, especially history, biography and trivia, he said. He also is interested in photography, the Mariners “and, when my knees allow, skiing and water skiing,” he added.

In his “real” job, he is a customer service representative at Nordstrom in Bellevue Square.

Hikel believes the most pressing issue for the council right now is to make the city government more effective and more efficient. “We have embarked on a multi-year program to review each department to further this aim,” Hikel said.

Hikel said he loves to laugh, “and good satire makes me laugh the most. “The most clever satire I have seen in the past few years was the Simpson’s take off on the French movie ‘Jean de Florette.’”

As far as frustrations, Hikel said he is a fairly patient guy “but I get frustrated when people don’t do their homework. My pet peeve is with people who don’t tell the truth.”

Hikel would like to thank the voters for “hiring” him to represent them. “It’s a lot of work and worry, but a great honor to serve the community.” Hikel said.

Council member Martin “Marti” Nelson is “old enough to listen,” and is married to Charlotte and has five children and three grandchildren. His hobbies include his participation with Rotary and volunteer dispute resolution activities. Outside of the council he is retired and spends his time on his hobbies.

For Nelson, the current most pressing issue facing Lynnwood is to establish adequate city revenue sources and reserves.

Nelson’s African gray parrot makes him laugh and “people who refuse to think of others welfare is what frustrates him. Pet peeve: “People who think they are always right and refuse to listen to others,” Nelson said.

Nelson would like citizens to know “I am a retired civil engineer who was fortunate to work in many parts of the world in construction management and construction consulting. In my opinion, there is no place better to live than NW Washington, USA.”

Council member Ruth Ross, 41, Has two grown sons and a brother. In her spare time she likes to read, write, use computers, listen to music, travel and make jewelry.

Ross works for American Greetings doing merchandising in two local stores.

The most important issue for Lynnwood right now for Ross is “diversifying our revenue sources while protecting our neighborhoods and business community.”

Ross finds humor and something to laugh at in everyday things, “especially when told by someone who can really tell a good story.”

What frustrates her: “How long it can take to get something done.” Her pet peeve is “when doing a poor job is good enough,” Ross said.

Ross would like citizens to know she is a proud Marine mom. And “I think Lynnwood has some of the best people living and working here. I’m a real bargain hunter and I like shopping in thrift stores, she said. Adding “I make all my own jewelry, so when you see me wearing some, I made it.”

Council member Loren Simmonds, 59, will have been married to his wife Sheri for 35 years on Sept. 12. They have two grown children and two grandchildren. Simmonds said he enjoys reading, “especially political biographies’” and engaging in one on one conversations with friends. “I’m not a large group person,” Simmonds said. Adding he is also a long time Seattle Seahawks season ticket holder. “Go Hawks!”

Simmonds is a development consultant for non-profit organizations. “In other words, I help them raise money and strengthen their relationships with community constituents. This includes leadership training as well,” he said.

The most important issue for Lynnwood right now, Simmonds said is the settlement of prolonged labor negotiations with our local firefighter’s union 1984. “We desperately need to wrap this up and do so in a manner that is a win/win situation for all parties involved,” he said.

Simmonds said what he laughs at may not be the funniest thing. “My friends tell me that I laugh at the dumbest jokes — frankly, I often laugh when I tell dumb jokes, perhaps I have a warped sense of humor,” he laughed.

Unsafe and dangerous drivers frustrate Simmonds. “In my work, I drive a great deal. Drivers who insist on driving too close behind you (unsafe) or think it necessary to speed up and pass you by using a turn lane (dangerous) and then stop half a block down the street at the red light,” he said.

Simmonds does have a pet peeve. “I really try to actively listen to people when they are talking to me. I expect the same courtesy,” Simmonds said. “When a person cuts me off in mid-sentence with his or her comment, I view that as being rude and disrespectful.”

Simmonds would also like the citizens to know “one of my greatest challenges as a city council member is that of leaving time for personal solitude and making space for thinking and reading. One can easily fall into the trap of overload — at least I can.”

Council member Lisa Utter, 40, has been married to Eric for 15 years and they have two children who currently attend local public schools. Her grandparents are also a big part of her immediate family and they live right across the street from her.

Utter and her husband are pretty avid followers of the contemporary dance and art scene and she reads a lot and volunteers in her spare time. She added, “I’d like to refocus some of my energies into gardening and a home renovation.”

Outside of the City Council she is also a contract paralegal and a small business owner.

Utter said the most immediate issue for Lynnwood is “resolving the issues surrounding Medic 7, at the same time dealing with the economic downturn and the impact that has on the services we provide and the hardships many of our citizens are facing,” she said.

What makes Utter laugh: “We’ve been watching a lot of old silent movies lately and what most makes me laugh is watching my children get hysterical at the slapstick,” she said.

“Half answers and non-answers” is what frustrates her. Including her pet peeve, “people who don’t pick up after themselves and their dogs in public parks.”

Utter would like citizens to know “I am truly looking forward to the day we go paperless on the council so my desk looks more like Martha Stewart’s.”