Activists seek Mukilteo council seat

MUKILTEO — Pat Kessler and Linda Grafer both have extensive backgrounds in helping their community, but only one can be elected to the Mukilteo City Council.

Voters in Mukilteo must choose in the Nov. 6 general election which candidate will replace Councilwoman Lori Kaiser, who opted not to seek re-election.

The winner gets a four-year term on the seven-member council and a $500 monthly stipend.

Kessler, 70, started attending City Council meetings when she moved to Mukilteo seven years ago. She was drawn to the meetings when she learned of the changing plans for the city’s waterfront at the base of Japanese Gulch, near her home.

Since then, she’s weighed in on many topics that have come through City Hall. To alleviate noise in Old Town, she has pushed the city, the Port of Everett and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway to create a corridor in which trains don’t need to blow their horns. She’s also been a staunch advocate of preserving the Rosehill Community Center.

“When the need comes up, and I see something that needs to be done, if there’s nobody up there doing it, then I do it,” said Kessler, who is retired.

Grafer, 66, is a founding member of the city’s Parks and Arts Commission, which was formed in the early 1980s. She became involved with local government when she met the city’s mayor at the time, John Corbett, as he walked door to door to talk with residents. He told Grafer he wanted to form a parks board.

“I said, ‘Sign me up,’ ” Grafer said.

Grafer continues to serve on the commission. In the position, Grafer has helped create the 92nd Street Park, as well as the city’s long-term plan for acquiring parks and open space. During the mid-1990s, when the city had to close its library because of funding shortfalls, Grafer helped plan a successful tax levy that allowed the city to build a brand new library.

Now, the commission is working on the renovation of Lighthouse Park, which is scheduled to begin soon.

“I have worked for years with councils and mayors to help provide results that have made our city what it is today,” Grafer said.

Both candidates see the city’s plans to annex more land as one of the biggest issues on the city’s horizon. They also believe the Mukilteo City Council must do what it can to prevent regular commercial airline passenger service from coming to Paine Field.

Kessler views the development of Old Town’s waterfront as an important issue. The long-term plan for the waterfront has been uncertain since remnants of an ancient American Indian village were found where the state wanted to build a new ferry terminal with bus and train connections.

City Council President Jennifer Gregerson and Councilman Tony Tinsley are running unopposed for re-election. Newcomer Emily Vanderwielen is also running unopposed for City Council Position 5, which is currently held by Bruce Richter, the council’s most veteran member who is retiring.

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.

Council candidates

Name: Pat Kessler

Age: 70

Occupation: Retired

Web site: www.kesslerforcouncil.com

Name: Linda Grafer

Age: 66

Occupation: Claims adjuster

Web site: www.lindagrafer.com

About the job: The Mukilteo City Council set policy for the city and approve the budget. The seat is for a four-year term on the seven-member council. Members of the council receive monthly stipends of $500.

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