Arlington council candidates tout skills

ARLINGTON — A growing community, congested roads and economic development are priorities for each of the four candidates running for Arlington’s two contested seats on the City Council.

The candidates have different ideas on how to deal with growth and make the most of taxpayers’ money.

Barbara Tolbert, executive director of the Arlington Fly-In, is challenging incumbent Councilman Scott Solla for council position 3.

Graham Smith, a councilman for six years, is defending his seat against Virginia Hatch, chairwoman of Arlington’s Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission.

Councilwoman Signe “Sally” Lien is also up for re-election, but her opponent, Blair Anderson, moved to Marysville earlier this year and is no longer qualified to serve on the City Council. He is asking his supporters to vote for Lien.

However, if Anderson is elected, the City Council would appoint someone to serve in his place until the next election in two years, said Snohomish County elections supervisor Wendy Mauch.

Mayor Margaret Larson and council members Marilyn Oertle and Richard Butner are running unopposed.

Council Position 3

Solla was appointed to the council a year and a half ago to replace councilman Dan Anderson, who moved out of the area. Solla believes voters should elect him because he works well with the existing council and has a good handle on the growth issues the city faces.

“In order to do a good job in this position, you have to work as a team,” said Solla, a floral and produce manager for Northwest Grocers. “I realize there is no room on council for lone-wolfing things. It takes four votes to make things happen.”

While Solla would like to see more “nice restaurants” and family entertainment options in Arlington, Tolbert said she would focus on attracting aerospace and technology businesses, as well as more retail shops.

She has served on various governmental committees and says she has the leadership and business know-how to help Arlington budget for the future.

“The budget next year for City of Arlington is a hold-the-line budget because we’re not seeing an increase in revenue,” she said. “We need to have both sides of that budget. We need to keep up with infrastructure improvements.”

Council-at-large

Hatch, a retired system support analyst at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, has volunteered in Arlington for years and believes she’s ready for the council. She frequents council meetings and said she wants to help direct the council away from some of the “undependable” development opportunities it has considered in the past.

“We need to quit looking at quick fixes,” she said. “I think when they come along — such as a NASCAR track or such as county transit throwing something at us or wanting to put gambling in our community — we need to take a pass on those kinds of things that aren’t well thought out. We need to be out there actively seeking businesses that we think would be a real asset to our community.”

Smith, vice president of A.G. Edwards &Sons Inc. in Everett, said his experience and leadership track record set him apart from Hatch.

“She has been very involved — and thank goodness we have volunteers like that — but I think there’s a difference between serving on a committee and actually serving on the council and putting together budgets and working on regulations and procedures,” Smith said.

If elected, he said he’d focus on developing and implementing a public safety plan, alleviating traffic issues and revitalizing the city’s business climate.

Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.

Arlington City Council

Position 3

Scott Solla

Age: 49

Occupation: floral and produce merchandising specialist and ad writer for Northwest Grocers

Barbara Tolbert

Age: 49

Occupation: executive director, Arlington Fly-In

Arlington City Council-at-large

Graham Smith

Age: 62

Occupation: vice president of A.G. Edwards &Sons Inc., Everett

Virginia Hatch

Age: 63

Occupation: retired system support analyst at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle

Note: None of the candidates provided Web site information

About the job: Arlington City Council members attend meetings and make policy decisions for the city. They are paid up to $400 a month to attend two regular City Council meetings. For each additional meeting they attend, they receive $50, up to $400 a month.

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