EVERETT — Political newcomer James Sterba and retired post office worker Carolyn Carlson will advance to the November ballot as Thursday’s results showed them well ahead of a pack of five candidates.
Sterba held an early lead with 38% of the vote. Carlson received 30% of the vote.
Sterba, a senior procurement manager at Boeing, said while campaigning his priorities were protecting the community feel of Mukilteo while investing in infrastructure, boosting economic development and limiting tax increases.
In a statement Wednesday, Sterba said he was “humbled and grateful” for voters’ support.
“I feel energized by the trust you’ve placed in me, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue this campaign and earn the trust of Mukilteo voters in the general election on November 4th,” Sterba wrote.
Carlson, a retired postal worker, sought to address the city’s budget issues and give more say to seniors in the community. She had hoped to open a senior center in the city and establish an office of neighborhoods.
“I want to thank all my supporters,” Carlson wrote in a statement Wednesday. “So many reached out with support and encouragement. I intend to make it clear to all citizens of Mukilteo in the next few months that I am the best qualified.”
Riaz Khan, Tina Over and Jon Welton fell behind.
Khan, an engineer at Boeing, was previously elected as a City Council member in 2019 after four previous unsuccessful campaigns. On Tuesday, he earned 16% of the vote. He then ran an unsuccessful campaign for the state Legislature in 2024 as a Republican. His priorities in the race were public safety, redeveloping the city’s waterfront, improving government accountability and opening a new senior center.
Over, a small business owner, earned 12% of the vote. She serves on Mukilteo’s Civil Service Commission. Her top priorities were improving housing affordability, investing in infrastructure, supporting small businesses and improving government transparency.
Welton, a mechanic at Boeing, earned 4% the vote. His top priorities were managing housing growth, balancing the budget and maintaining local control of police, fire and EMS. According to the Lynnwood Times and the Mukilteo Beacon, he had announced he was no longer seeking the seat.
Mukilteo City Council members serve four-year terms and earn $10,992 per year.
Primary results will be certified on Aug. 19. The general election is Nov. 4.
Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.
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