Everett voters faced with close city council choices

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, October 20, 2001

Everett voters are fortunate to have a strong slate of city council candidates from which to choose on Nov. 6, even if it means a little more agonizing and second-guessing oneself at the voting booth.

One way to narrow the field is to focus on a combination of council members who together offer experience, a variety of involvement in the city and representation of different groups in the community.

With that formula in mind, we are endorsing Frank Anderson, David Simpson and Arlan Hatloe for council positions No. 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

Anderson, a retired firefighter and small business owner, has been on the council for 12 years and, like other incumbents, got a wake-up call in the September primaries from his challengers. But his experience, on a council that helped a struggling downtown go from boarded up storefronts to revitalization, will be of special use as Everett wades through uncertain economic times and comes out strong.

His opponent, Mary Ehrlich, operates a bed and breakfast and has been in the nursing field for more than 30 years. Ehrlich is very involved in the Bayside neighborhood association and has tapped into a frustrated segment of the population. Her campaign yard signs dotting the area prove it. But she still needs more involvement in other areas of the city to round out her qualifications.

Simpson, a Boeing engineer who has done his homework on city government and boasts a strong record of service, has been working hard at his new role as council president. He deserves extra credit for balancing his support of the proposed events center with attracting a solid neighborhood following — especially at a time when the two don’t seem to necessarily go hand in hand.

Attorney Mark Olson, running against Simpson, has an impressive history of service to this community, too, and has been on the board of directors for numerous agencies including the Everett Parks Foundations and the Boys &Girls Clubs of Snohomish County. His long-term perspective on economic development, such as the events center, suggests he is able to see complicated projects through successfully from beginning to end.

In position 3, local businessman Arlan Hatloe deserves a spot on the council. His business experience, combined with extensive community involvement, will make him an effective addition to the council. Hatloe has a solid understanding of the major issues impacting our area, such as transportation and economic development. And he is able to balance his business side with a desire to preserve the historic nature of Everett’s older neighborhoods.

His opponent, council member Dan Warnock, like some of the other candidates, was raised here and has a historically based understanding of the city’s potential. Warnock has a reputation on the council for being a hard worker and asking tough questions. And he has good ideas for working on transportation issues, which include encouraging big business to set up satellite offices in the city.