The Edmonds candidates who raised and spent the most money for the Nov. 3 general election all are on their way to winning.
City Council candidate Neil Tibbott, who has reported raising $17,435 and spending $15,905, leads incumbent Lora Petso 56 percent to 44 percent in votes counted through Friday. Petso was limited to raising and spending $5,000 by her choice of “mini-reporting,” with the state Public Disclosure Commission. The two were running for the position that Petso won in 2011 after joining the council by appointment in 2010. Petso had served an earlier single four-year term. She continues to hold an elected position on the Olympic View Water District board.
Candidate Dave Teitzel, who has reported raising $12,945 and spending $10,998, leads opponent Alicia Crank by a 71 percent to 29 margin for the position that Councilwoman Joan Bloom is giving up after one four-year term. Crank has reported raising $3,182 and spending $ 3,362.
Appointed incumbent Mike Nelson, who has reported raising $7,173 and spending $3,736, leads challenger Alvin Rutledge 79 percent to 20 percent. Rutledge has used the PDC “mini-reporting” option, which excuses him from regular reporting during a campaign as long as he raises and spends no more than $5,000. The two are running for the last two years of the four-year term that former Councilman Strom Peterson won in 2013 before winning election to the state legislature in 2014.
Incumbent Mayor Dave Earling has reported raising $26,341 and spending $13,796. He is running unopposed for a second four-year term.
Incumbent council members Diane Buckshnis and Thomas Mesaros both are running unopposed. Buckshnis has reported raising and spending $100. Mesararos reported raising $3,885 and spending $1,811. Buckshnis is seeking a second four-year term after joining the council by appointment in 2010 and winning a full term in 2011. Mesarsos is seeking a first term after joining the council by appointment in 2014.
People and organizations in the real estate and property-development businesses are among major contributors to Edmonds candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Earling, Tibbott and Tietzel all have reported contributions from real-estate organizations, individuals who work in real estate or property development, the Washington Association of Realtors Political Affairs Council, and the Affordable Housing Council, the political action council of the Master Builders of King and Snohomish counties.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
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