Mike Cooper, one of Snohomish County’s best known Democrats, is hanging up his political spikes. At least for now.
Cooper’s tenure as mayor of Edmonds will end Tuesday afternoon when the results of the Nov. 8 election are certified and Dave Earling assumes power in the city. Earling captured nearly 65 percent of the vote in beating Cooper.
“It has been an honor to serve as mayor of my hometown these past sixteen months. I am proud of my accomplishments and each decision I made, always working to make our city a better place,” Cooper said in a statement following the loss.
Cooper, 59, held office at the city, county and state levels in his political journey.
He served four terms as a state representative from 1997 to 2005. He lost a statewide race in 2004 for commissioner of public lands but enjoyed a successful return to local politics when he won a seat on the Snohomish County Council in 2007. In 2010, he beat out six others to earn the appointment as the mayor of Edmonds.
At the time of the election, he spoke of possibly running for a seat in the state Legislature in 2012 depending on where Edmonds winds up in redistricting.
But in his statement issued Nov. 14 he sounds ready for retirement.
“I have served the community proudly in elected office for many years and hope to be remembered as a person with integrity who always stood up for my beliefs. After 31 years of public service, it is time to spend more time with my wife and grandchildren.”
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