3 picks for Arlington City Council
Published 3:37 pm Monday, October 19, 2015
Arlington, a city nearing 18,500 in population, is rebounding well following the nation and region’s economic downturn.
Along with a thriving base of aerospace businesses at its airport, Arlington seems to be attracting the interest of other manufacturers, evidenced by last week’s news that a developer plans to build a multi-building business park near the airport on the former property of the closed Northwest Hardwoods plant and the Weyerhaeuser mill. The business park, which would be served by two BNSF rail spurs, could support as many as 2,000 jobs once it’s built out in three to five years.
The next four years present issues in managing growth, continuing to attract manufacturing and retail businesses and providing public safety services. Three of Arlington’s seven council positions are up for election, and each attracted at least two candidates.
Position No. 4: Incumbent Randy Tendering, a school bus driver for the Arlington School District, is completing his first term and is challenged by Sue Weiss, a retired accountant who serves on advisory boards for the Arlington Community Resource Center and school district.
Weiss, an Arlington resident for 18 years, said her focus as a council member would be on the city budget, economic growth and the drug problem in the community.
Tendering, a resident for 20 years, says the key to financial stability is in bringing more retail and manufacturing businesses to town to add to its tax base. Tendering says he’s encouraged that the city has turned around financial problems, including a nearly depleted reserve fund that for the 2016 budget is $900,000, and wants the city to continue to build that reserve.
Weiss is very active in the community as a volunteer and has educated herself on the issues facing the city, but Tendering, with nearly four years on the council, has been part of the city’s success in its financial turnaround. He merits a second term from voters.
Position No. 5: Incumbent Marilyn Oertle, a practice manager with Western Washington Medical Group, is completing her fourth term on the council and is challenged by Natalie Reed, a support enforcement officer with the state Department of Social and Health Services.
Reed, who volunteers as a volleyball coach with the Arlington Boys &Girls Club, was unable to meet with The Herald Editorial Board.
Oertle has been a resident of Arlington since 1974. During her four terms in office she has served alongside three mayors, each with a different management style and has twice served terms as mayor pro tem. Oertle also supports continued and managed growth, but also is proud of Arlington’s parks and recreation programs and its support for the arts.
Oertle demonstrates knowledge of the issues facing the city, particularly its on-going negotiations with Fire District 21 as it works out issues of service and payment for services.
Oertle, because of her length of service, which includes time on the planning commission before joining the council in 2000, can provide perspective and institutional knowledge to others on the council. She deserves a fifth term from the voters.
Position No. 6: Political newcomers Jacob Kukuk and Mike Hopson are running for the seat now held by Austin DeFreece. The council appointed DeFreece to the position in July, following the death of council member Dick Butner, who died in May. DeFreece’s appointment to the council came after the filing deadline for the office had passed. He is now running a write-in campaign for the position.
Kukuk, a software developer for the Washington Institute of Technology, says he is running with the goal of increasing representation for youths and young adults and wants to create a youth council to advise the city on issues important to them. He also hopes to bring high-tech jobs to Arlington and would focus on the issues of homelessness and addiction.
Hopson, a retired teacher, is a member of the city’s Airport Commission. He ran unsuccessfully in 2013 for the position now held by Jan Schuette. Hopson wants to make sure the effects of growth are addressed so that roads and utilities are not adversely affected. Regarding homelessness, he suggests encouraging development of affordable housing alternatives, such as “mother-in-law” apartments and partnerships with housing advocates.
DeFreece, an attorney who works in Bellevue, has lived in Arlington for three years. Previously he and his family lived in Lake Stevens.
DeFreece has shown himself to be a quick learner on the council, and we would encourage him to consider running for office in Arlington in the future. Hopson, based on his current work with the city and knowledge of the city and its issues, deserves the support of voters for the position.
