EDMONDS — The City Council has an opening and there’s been no lack of interest in filling it.
Ten people have applied for the position. They were asked to fill out a form that asked questions about their previous volunteer work, their personal strengths and weaknesses and their priorities for the city.
The candidates will be interviewed by the city council at a meeting beginning at 5 p.m. Feb. 17. The council is scheduled to select a candidate at its March 3 meeting. The opening was created when former City Council member Strom Peterson was elected to the Legislature in November.
Here is a summary of each of the applicants:
Mario Brown, 36, works as an administrative assistant for business relationships for the Washington Music Educators Association. He also worked as an office operations supervisor for the U.S. Census. He said his three priorities for the city would be development along Highway 99, more public transportation and attracting more young families to Edmonds.
Stephen Clifton, 57, works as an executive director in Snohomish County government. He previously worked as the community development director in Federal Way. He has worked on the Edmonds Community College president’s advisory committee and as a board member for the Edmonds Center for the Arts. He said his priorities for the city are fiscal stability, funding transportation projects and effectively communicating with citizens, business owners and the public.
Adam Cornel, 42, works as a Snohomish County deputy prosecuting attorney. His law degree is from Lewis and Clark College in Portland. He said his priorities are enhancing the character and charm of the city’s neighborhoods and public spaces, promoting public safety and improving transportation and infrastructure in an environmentally responsible manner.
Debbie Matteson, 57, has worked in real estate for the past 10 years. She has an associate’s degree from Edmonds Community College and worked in court reporting for 20 years. She said her priorities are promoting tourism, developing a smart transportation center with the city’s rail system and ferry terminal, and using smart growth planning to blend business and living spaces.
Michael Jay Nelson could not be reached for comment. He serves as volunteer on the county’s Search and Rescue unit. He has a law degree from Gonzaga University. He serves on the city’s planning board as well as the mayor’s climate protection committee. In his application, Nelson said his priorities are enhancing the city’s quality of life, transportation and economic stability.
David Preston, 55, currently serves as a commissioner for the Port of Edmonds. He is president of the Insurance Resource Group, a medical insurance brokerage firm in Edmonds. He graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in business administration. He said his priorities are protecting citizens through making sure police, fire services, roads and hospitals are the best possible, making sure city priorities align with a healthy budget and protecting the city’s character as it grows.
Alvin Rutledge, 74, lost a challenge in November to Democratic state Rep. Ruth Kagi, who had held the seat since 1999. Rutledge, who is retired, previously ran a home delivery business. Rutledge said he is running for the city council position because he believes that no candidate should run unopposed. He said his priorities are public safety, economic development, and a healthy environment.
Jeff Scherrer, 61, lost a challenge in November to Democratic State Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self. He previously started and owned his own computer reselling business. He owns rental properties and hosts students who attend Edmonds Community College. He said his priorities are preserving and improving the city’s quality of life, communicating with citizens and governing in a fiscally responsible manner.
Neil Tibbott, 56, is chairman of the city’s Planning Board and president of Meadowdale High School’s Sports Booster Club. He said his priorities are long-range planning, transportation systems, including walkways and bike corridors and preserving parks and natural amenities. He works as executive director for the nonprofit group Leadership Onramp, which provides human resources services for other nonprofits.
David Teizel, 62, who is retired, previously worked as public policy director for Qwest Communications. He said he would like to see Edmonds become a city known not only as a good place to raise children, but for those adult children to return to raise their kids. He said his priorities are achieving a balanced city budget and ensuring adequate reserves, protecting the city’s livability and attracting new business revenue to reduce the need for increased taxes.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com
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