Two-term incumbent Lynnwood Mayor Don Gough faces three challengers in the Aug. 6 primary —- city councilmen Loren Simmonds and Mark Smith and Edmonds Community College administrator Nicola Smith.
The top two vote getters in the primary advance to the Nov. 5 general election.
The primary looks a lot like the one four years ago, when Gough faced challenges from Simmonds and from then councilmembers Jim Smith and Lisa Utter. Gough got only 35 percent of the primary votes but went on to defeat Smith in the general election.
Here are introductory statements from the three challengers (Gough has not responded to requests for a statement):
Loren Simmonds
Community Connections:
— Lynnwood resident and homeowner for 30+years
— Owned Consulting Firm for Non-Profits for 28 years — Two children/graduates of Meadowdale High School
Community Volunteer:
— Assist Cold Weather Shelter for Homeless — Judge of American Ideals Oratory Contest
— Mentor for C-Us Lead — middle school students
— Career Day for Kids — elementary school students — Board Member/Lynnwood Parks &Recreation Foundation
Professional Credentials:
— 14 years on City Council/six years as Council President
— Advanced Leadership Certification/Association of Washington cities
— Three earned degrees/BA and two master’s degrees
— Three decades of private business experience
Mark Smith
Honesty. Integrity. Passion. These qualities define me as a person and will define my administration as Mayor. Elected twice to the council, I led the effort to protect senior housing. As council president during the worst of the recession, I worked with my council colleagues to adopt a balanced budget that maintained core services.
Lynnwood is changing. It deserves a mayor with fresh ideas and a can-do attitude. I grew up in Lynnwood and my wife and I are now raising our own children here. I am deeply committed to Lynnwood, a city I am proud to call home.
mark@markforlynnwood.org
Nicola Smith
I believe in Lynnwood. It’s a great place to call home.
I also believe that Lynnwood has tremendous, unrecognized potential. It’s time to refresh and reset the reality between city revenues and expenditures. I am committed to fostering Lynnwood into the future with sound and sustainable fiscal management.
To better serve its constituents, Lynnwood’s highly qualified professional staff deserves appropriate and skilled management.
It’s time to refresh and reset relationships with other regional governments to make the greatest use of our resources in partnership with others.
I have the proven ability to provide Lynnwood with the leadership it needs.
www.nicolaformayor.com
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
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