Economic concerns, waterfront access and the proposed events arena among key issues

By Theresa Goffredo

Herald Writer

EVERETT — The horrific terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 seem to have shifted the focus for Everett City Council candidates from the issue of building a combination hockey arena and events center to coping with a pending economic downturn.

For some candidates facing off in the Nov. 6 general election, those issues are one in the same.

For incumbent Frank Anderson, being a retired firefighter has allowed him to bring to the city a public safety perspective that he believes is needed in these fearful times. Anderson has attended terrorism classes in Washington, D.C., and knows he can bring his expertise to the table as public policy changes.

"We may not be the No. 1 target but we don’t want to be asleep at the wheel," Anderson said.

Mary Ehrlich

With the announcement of Boeing layoffs in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, Anderson said the city was already on top of the situation by putting money away in a rainy-day fund.

"The city is on strong financial ground right now and our bond rating couldn’t be better, and I’ve had a hand in all of that," Anderson said. "Therefore, my opponent is a very nice person, but I have to wonder at this time if her issues are as important as mine."

Anderson’s opponent is Everett business owner Mary Ehrlich. She said voters need a representative who will address the needs of today and, though experience is sometimes helpful, "sometimes you need to have a new perspective."

One of her main issues is giving neighborhood associations a greater role. Though Anderson claims he was one of the people to support the rise of neighborhood associations, Ehrlich criticized the incumbent for letting the ball drop.

"Neighborhood associations should be given some decision-making authority and be able to make recommendations to the board and commissioners," Ehrlich said. "I think it would empower and encourage public participation, empower people to be more involved in the community."

Ehrlich, a registered nurse, is the only woman running for Everett city government. She said that’s not the only reason people should vote for her but it’s an important consideration. "We need more diversity on the council," Ehrlich said.

The council is made up of eight men, including the mayor. Two council members are black. Each council member holds office for four years and earns $18,000 a year.

There are three major issues on incumbent David Simpson’s agenda if he’s elected for another four years: growth management and transportation, economic development and public safety.

David Simpson

To address these, Simpson said he and the rest of the council must continue to provide affordable housing to Everett residents while maintaining the necessary services of transportation and police and fire protection. To do all that, a healthy economy is a must.

So to combat the threat of recession and improve quality of life at the same time, the city should move ahead with plans to build the special events center, Simpson said.

"What we need to do is to keep building on the arena and working on the project," said Simpson, a Boeing employee. "We need to be building our economic base so we won’t have to look at cutting jobs or service." Simpson said he believes voters should pick him because of his experience on the council with economic and community development, his expertise with ordinances and municipal bonds, and his support of youth programs and social services.

Opponent Mark Olson said he would bring to the council a lifetime of civic and community involvement and public service, including three years as a planning commissioner and more than eight years on the Everett Parks Foundation.

Olson said he doesn’t spend time second-guessing the city’s decision on building a hockey arena. His real passion and a trickier issue to tackle is public access to Everett’s waterfront. Olson would like to see the waterfront areas improved with bike trails and other amenities such as those offered in Bellingham, Tacoma and Wenatchee.

With his experience working as an advisory member on the city’s shoreline master plan, Olson said he can help fine-tune the plan when it continues to come before the council and that he favors a mixed-use approach to the waterfront.

Mark Olson

"A mixed-use approach best reflects how we actually live because we live in a mixed-use world," Olson said.

Olson, a trial attorney who handles civil cases, said he can be more effective than the incumbent.

"I’m not chasing the puck of public opinion but shaping public opinion," Olson said. "Anticipating economic downturns and dealing with it so it doesn’t compromise us and puts us in a good position to rebound."

Incumbent Dan Warnock said voters should select him because he has worked hard the past four years understanding city government and now has the experience to be "very effective."

Dan Warnock

As part of his duties, Warnock is liaison to the Council of Neighborhoods and the cultural commission and serves on the public safety and finance committees.

Warnock said he and his other council members saw the pending economic downturn coming and made preparations for it. But to keep the economy healthy, Warnock said the city must "handshake" with businesses and get them to town.

"To revitalize our downtown we have to go out and get those businesses," Warnock said.

Arlan Hatloe

His opponent, Arlan Hatloe, owner of Hatloes Decorating Center, has been running on a campaign of investing in street improvements and public transit, protecting parks and waterfront from reckless development, and maintaining family wage jobs, according to his campaign fliers.

Hatloe was out of town this week and could not personally comment.

You can call Herald Writer Theresa Goffredo at 425-339-3097

or send e-mail to goffredo@heraldnet.com.