LYNNWOOD — After 16 years on the Lynnwood City Council, Loren Simmonds says he still has work to do. He’s asking voters for another four years.
Two challengers, Maria Ambalada and Shirley Sutton, have extensive experience serving on community boards. The three are vying for Council Position 4 in the primary election. The top two vote-getters will advance to the general election in November.
Ambalada, 78, is running because she’s an activist, and city leaders aren’t listening to the community, she said. She wants more communication from City Hall and lower taxes. She also wants the council to become more independent from the mayor’s office.
If elected, she would support a van program that would provide free transportation to veterans and mothers. She also would like to see a farmers market open around-the-clock and more community gardens.
Simmonds, 72, says he’s running for the same reasons he ran in 1999.
“I believe the city of Lynnwood has an incredible amount of potential,” he said. “I’ve believed that from the get-go.” Many of the things he’s worked on have happened quietly, he said, citing the City Center project as an example.
He’s also supported policy changes to encourage development, he said. He’s thinking about the tax proposal for road projects that failed to win voter approval last fall. It’s time to look at it again, Simmonds said.
“We’ve got to do something and we’re not going to be able to ignore that,” he said.
He’d also like to see development at 196th Street SW and Highway 99, and he wants to establish neighborhood councils.
Sutton, 68, has been active with the Lynnwood Diversity Commission and served eight years on the state’s Homelessness Advisory Board. She spent decades employed in schools and by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad. Her experience working with unions and settling disputes would come in handy, she said. She also would add a diverse perspective, and the city needs more diversity among its staff in addition to elected leaders, she said.
“When I look around I see leadership that doesn’t reflect our demographics at all,” she said.
Sutton would implement better disaster planning for Lynnwood, she said.
“I just want to do my part to make Lynnwood a lot stronger and vibrant for everybody,” she said.
Four of Lynnwood’s seven council positions are up for election this year. Ballots are mailed out in July.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
The candidates
At stake is a four-year term on the Lynnwood City Council, which pays about $1,650 per month or $19,800 per year.
Maria Ambalada
Age: 78
Experience: Served on the city planning commission and various city boards.
Website: www.facebook.com/maria.ambalada
Loren Simmonds
Age: 72
Experience: Lynnwood City Council, 2000 to present. Senior adviser for nonprofits.
Website: www.lorensimmonds.com
Shirley Sutton
Age: 68
Experience: Served on the Lynnwood Diversity Commission and other city advisory boards, and the state’s Homelessness Advisory Board. Decades of experience in schools and with the railroad.
Website: www.voteshirleysutton.com
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