2017 elections could shake up Snohomish County Council

Published 1:30 am Monday, January 2, 2017

EVERETT — The year ahead could be a time of upheaval on the Snohomish County Council — or maybe not.

Three of five council members are up for election in 2017. Another member not up for re-election has been eyeing a run to become Everett’s mayor.

Before election season plays out, there’s a vacancy to address.

Republicans are winnowing down a field of at least nine applicants to fill Councilman Ken Klein’s seat. Klein, an Arlington Republican who was in his first term on the council, was set to resign at the close of 2016 to take a high-level management job in county Executive Dave Somers’ administration.

Questionnaires went out to prospective nominees in mid-December. They’re under review now. Republican Party officers are expected to nominate three people from the list at the Jan. 14 meeting.

“We want this to be a good, quick process,” said Debbie Blodgett, who recently assumed the role as chairwoman of the Snohomish County GOP.

The appointment would be up to the County Council, where Democrats enjoy a 3-1 advantage. That means the opposing party has a bigger say in choosing which Republican will serve alongside them.

Klein has come up with his own short list. His top three picks to take over are: Jesica Stickles, an Arlington city councilwoman and president of the Marysville-Tulalip Chamber of Commerce; Michael Stevens, a Marysville city councilman and partner with Everett-based Dykeman Architects; and Nate Nehring, a middle school teacher and Stanwood planning commissioner who is the son of Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring.

Rob Toyer, a Marysville city councilman who works as a financial advisor, also said he’s in the running.

So is Gary Wright, a Marysville Realtor who was edged out for the County Council job by Klein and another candidate in the 2013 election. His wife, Donna Wright, serves on the Marysville City Council.

Blodgett said Kevin Ashe, Chris Ihler, Tim Loney and Robert Sutherland are the other contenders. Ashe serves on the Darrington Town Council. Ihler, a Marysville resident, has been an active supporter of local Republican candidates. Loney used to serve on the Stanwood City Council. Sutherland, a retired biochemist from Granite Falls, ran unsuccessfully this past election against Democratic U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene in Washington’s 1st Congressional District.

The vacant District 1 position covers northern Snohomish County, including Arlington, Darrington, Granite Falls, Marysville and Stanwood.

Whoever gets the appointment would have to run for a full four-year term.

That’s not the only potential for flux.

Councilman Sam Low, a Republican from Lake Stevens, won a special one-year term in November. He’ll have to compete again this year for a full term. Low represents District 5, spanning the cities of Lake Stevens, Monroe and Snohomish as well as other eastern parts of the county.

Councilman Terry Ryan, a Democrat from Mill Creek, also will be up for re-election this year. His District 4 position covers southcentral parts of the county. He was first elected to the job in 2013.

County Councilman Brian Sullivan, the council’s senior member, announced in December that he’s exploring a run for mayor of Everett. Mayor Ray Stephanson hasn’t said whether he intends to seek a fourth term leading the city which, unlike the county, does not have term limits. Sullivan’s time on the County Council is set to expire at the end of 2019, when term limits would prevent him from running for the job again.

The official filing period for political office is set to open May 15 through May 19.

Looming decisions for the council include whether to proceed with a $62 million renovation plan for the county courthouse. That’s expected to come for a vote early this year, perhaps in February.

The council also has been looking at new rules to keep marijuana shops from clustering in certain unincorporated commercial areas, chiefly stretches of Highway 99 and the Bothell-Everett Highway. An emergency ban on new pot stores is set to remain in effect into March to give council members time to craft new rules. They have discussed a minimum distance of up to one mile between stores, but could settle on a smaller buffer.

Work is expected to continue to keep county finances in check. Somers has said he’s concerned about the long-term sustainability of the county budget.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.