Edmonds judge gets more hours, more pay

EDMONDS — The Edmonds City Council has approved an increase in hours and pay for Municipal Judge Douglas Fair, with his annual salary now set at $106,068.

That’s an additional $30,545 to his current salary of $75,523. The new salary reflects both a 3 percent raise and an increase in the time he works by 8 hours, from 22 to 30 hours each week, said Carrie Hite, the city’s reporting director for human resources.

The municipal judge hears cases involving misdemeanor infractions of city ordinances and parking violations.

Fair said that he asked for the increase to help make the position more financially competitive with other municipal court positions in the region. Fair is running unopposed as a judicial candidate for Snohomish County’s South District Court. If elected, he will start there in January.

“The time was appropriate to set this up for the new judge coming in” as municipal judge, he said. “There’s a big difference between $75,000 and $106,000 in that job. The idea is we want to attract the highest pool of applicants we can.”

Fair said that when he was first appointed as the city’s municipal court judge in 2005, there were 5,318 case filings. That number is expected to hit about 6,000 cases this year. (The municipal judge position was converted to an elected one in 2006.)

However, the numbers have bounced between 7,000 and 8,000 filings over the past five years. The highest number occurred in 2011 with 7,919 cases, Fair said.

The city receives money from the state to help pay for the costs of running the court. But to qualify, Edmonds must pay a salary tied to what district court judges are paid, based on the number of hours the municipal court judge works.

Fair said that some of the state money has been used to improve safety and security in the courthouse.

The change in Fair’s hours and pay was approved by the City Council on Tuesday on a 5-2 vote, with council members Diane Buckshnis, Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, Kristiana Johnson, Thomas Mesaros and Strom Peterson voting yes and Joan Bloom and Lora Petso voting no.

“To me, it was a necessary item to be competitive in the market,” said Buckshnis, the City Council president.

The judge’s workload could have justified increasing his hours slightly more than the eight hours approved by the council, she said.

Petso said she had no qualms with increasing Fair’s hours or pay. She said she voted against the proposal “just as a matter of budget priorities.”

Petso said she wished the request could have been added to the city’s 2015 budget, rather than taking the action now.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

District 2 candidates differ in public safety approach

Incumbent Paula Rhyne is facing challenger Ryan Crowther. The third candidate, Jonathan Shapiro, is no longer seeking the seat.

From left to right, Edmonds City Council Position 3 candidates Joseph Ademofe, Alex Newman and Erika Barnett.
Amid budget crisis, Edmonds City Council candidates talk revenue, affordability

Three newcomers are facing off for Position 3 on the council, currently held by council President Neil Tibbott.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Everett
Everett approves new fines for non-emergency lifts

The fire department will only issue fines for non-emergency lift assists at licensed care facilities, not for individuals at home calling 911.

Guns for sale at Caso’s Gun-A-Rama in Jersey City, New Jersey, which has been open since 1967. (Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/New Jersey Monitor)
After suing, WA gets carveout from Trump administration plan to return gun conversion devices

The Trump administration has agreed to not distribute devices that turn semi-automatic… Continue reading

The Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility about 16 miles east of Ellensburg in central Washington is part of Puget Sound Energy’s clean energy portfolio. (Courtesy of Puget Sound Energy)
Megabill’s elimination of tax credits for clean energy projects could cost WA $8.7 billion

Washington households could see electricity costs increase $115 per year by 2029; 21,800 workers could lose their jobs by 2030, analysts say.

Everett mayor candidates focus on affordability, city budget in costly race

As incumbent Cassie Franklin seeks a third term in office, three candidates are looking to unseat her.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.