Introductory statements from Brier Council at-large candidates
Published 10:33 am Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Brier Councilman at-large John Joplin faces challenger Ken Yohe in the Nov. 3 general election.
The at-large member serves on the council for two years along with six others who serve for four years, with three elected this year and three elected two years ago.
Joplin and Yohe recently sent statements introducing themselves to voters. Here are their statements, in the order that the candidates’ names will appear on the ballot and in the voters’ pamphlet:
Brier City Council at-large (two-year term):
Ken Yohe: I’d like to represent Brier as a (two-year) Council member.
Having lived in Brier since 1988 and seen so many changes, I’d like to see a lot of Brier go back to the “good ole days.”
I have an associate’s degree in marine engineering with much of my career at sea. I served in the Navy during Vietnam. I also worked for the National Oceanic &Atmospheric Administration on research vessels as an engineer. In 1977, I went to work with Washington State Ferries as an oiler, and over 27 years there, worked my way up the ladder to chief engineer by acquiring sea time and passing the Coast Guard exams for promotion. I’ve attended the state’s weeklong fire fighting program as a requirement for my promotions. I retired in 2003 (with a 30-year pension with the State of Washington).
My hobbies are model trains, 1/8-scale railroads and prototypical railroads. I buy and sell new model train inventory on eBay; I also am a volunteer engineer at the Great Northern &Cascade Railway in Skykomish. I’m also a licensed firearms dealer, holding state, city and federal Licenses. I believe I’m on my 18th year of being a firearms and ammunition dealer (in this state and city).
I thank you for listening, and would like a chance to change some serious issues that has affected the city, crime, law enforcement and fireworks possession on the Fourth of July and New Years Eve.
John M. Joplin:
425-286-6423
Work Experience: Experience with local government spanning 40 years. 10 years, local government financial management; healthcare administration; officer, United States Air Force.
Education: master’s of business administration; University of Washington
Personal: 40-year local resident; married to Marilyn for 53 years; have two grown children (one of whom is a Brier resident) and five grandchildren.
Community Service: Service on the Brier City Council since 2012. Member, Snohomish Board of Health since 2013. Served on the Brier Planning Commission for three years. Served as president, board of trustees, Lou Gehrig’s Disease Research Foundation for 10 years.
Why I am seeking to continue to serve on the Brier City Council: My wife and I choose to live in Brier because of its unique qualities. Significant among these qualities is the city’s low-density residential character. I will continue to work to preserve the spacious and semi-rural wooded character of the area. I support the future development of multipurpose non-motorized trails.
I am proud of Brier’s designation as one of the safest cities in Washington. I will work to maintain that designation by retaining local control of police services.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
