Meet the candidates: Snohomish City Council
Published 9:00 pm Sunday, October 23, 2005
Position 4
Name: Karen Guzak
Age: 66
Residence: Snohomish
Education: Bachelor of science degree, University of Colorado; bachelor’s of arts degree, Cornish College
Occupation: Owns two Snohomish small businesses: Yoga Circle Studio and AngelArmsWorks (design and public art projects.) Developed and renovated two loft buildings, awarded the Seattle Times AIA Home of The Year in 1993 for Union Art Co-op. Managed renovation of old ACT for On the Boards Theater. Awarded 2005 honorary membership in the Seattle American Institute of Architects.
Political experience: None.
Personal experience: Historic Design Review Board, 2001 to present, current chairwoman; Snohomish Historic Preservation Week, coordinator, 2004 and 2005; member of: Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Network, Garden Club, Women’s Political Caucus; president of Board of Artist Trust; endorsed by Women’s Political Caucus and Teamsters Local 38.
Top three issues:
1. Provide a balanced and independent vision.
2. Bringing business savvy and fresh ideas to create more prosperity through attracting quality businesses.
3. Manage growth while valuing our history and natural environment.
Statement: I work and live in Snohomish, caring for it as a unique and quality place. I bring my business experience and my creative ideas to the council.
Fun fact: My garden was featured in Better Homes and Gardens’ August 2005 issue.
Name: R.C. “Swede” Johnson
Age: 62
Residence: Snohomish
Education: Graduated from Snohomish High in 1961; attended Everett, Seattle and Shoreline community colleges.
Occupation: Sales consultant at Bickford Motors, Snohomish; retired senior customer engineer, Snohomish County PUD.
Political experience: Snohomish School Board director for 10 years, Snohomish County Council District 5 for four years, Community Transit board for four years, president of Westside County commissioners and council member for two years, and Snohomish Jaycees for 17 years.
Personal experience: More than 40 years of community service and enrollment in Snohomish, including youth athletic coach, coordinator of Kla Ha Ya Park and creator of a garden club exhibit.
Top three issues:
1. Work with and support local small businesses, which will help increase a much-needed tax base.
2. Promote and support development of Bickford Corridor to provide family-living wages.
3. Encourage and protect the quality of life and our children’s environment in Snohomish.
Statement: I am proud to be a candidate for Snohomish City Council Position 4. I believe my life experiences will assist me in being a City Council person.
Fun fact: Running for City Council is a great experience to meet neighbors.
Position 5
Name: Rebecca Loveless
Age: 56
Residence: Snohomish
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and psychology, Lewis and Clark College; master’s degree in photography, Syracuse University
Occupation: Advertising manager
Political experience: Appointed to City Council in March. Served for seven years on city’s Design Review Board (three years as chairwoman).
Personal experience: Active in community since moving here in 1996, received award for restoration of my historic neighborhood. Served two years as president of Snohomish Garden Club.
Top three issues:
1. Safe neighborhoods: The city should actively encourage neighborhood watch groups and develop better communication between citizens and police. Supported funding of additional officers in this year’s council budget and will continue to support the department’s efforts to keep the town safe.
2. Lower taxes: The city needs to do a better job seeking federal and local grants to fund projects such as roads and sewer upgrades so residents are not burdened with huge expenses. Attracting quality businesses will increase city revenue and lighten the tax burden for residents.
3. Careful growth: I will continue to support our design standards to ensure quality development that fits the character of Snohomish. I don’t want Avenue D and Bickford to look like Highway 99.
Statement: We need a safe town where businesses and residents work together for a strong local economy. We can have both thriving businesses and growth that complements our small-town character.
Fun fact: None submitted.
Name: Randy Hamlin
Age: 42
Residence: Snohomish
Education: Bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry, Pacific Lutheran University; master’s in engineering, University of Texas.
Occupation: Director of engineering, Philips Medical ultrasound division in Bothell, 17 years.
Political experience: Served on city’s planning commission in 1994-95.
Personal experience: Director of marketing and director of engineering for a medical device company. Volunteer with youth sports, church, school organizations.
Top three issues:
1. Property taxes and utility rates: Those taxes are already high. We need to expand retail business base to generate sales tax dollars.
2. Policies for the community: The historic district must be preserved through appropriate regulations. The new sign law took an extreme position that hampers businesses, schools and churches.
3. Public safety: We must continue to invest in our police force and public education programs. I support adding a detective to the staff and enhancing our block watch programs.
Statement: I’m the best candidate with the breadth of experience, independent thinking and inclusive leadership style to support the traditions of Snohomish and create economic solutions that benefit the community.
Fun fact: I climbed Mount Rainier in June 2004.
Position 6
Name: Liz Loomis
Age: 35
Residence: Snohomish
Education: Bachelor of arts degree, George Washington University.
Occupation: Small-business owner
Political experience: Snohomish City Council, 1997-present. Snohomish mayor, 2004-present.
Personal experience: Provides marketing and communication services for small businesses. Serves on boards of the Cascade Land Conservancy, Snohomish Health District and Women’s Political Caucus.
Top three issues:
1. Slow down speeding cars: For 2006, I support dedicating a patrol to slow speeding vehicles in residential neighborhoods and to focus on traffic safety. We have hired four new officers in two years, cracked down on crime at the skate park and started new neighborhood watch programs to involve the community in public safety.
2. Attract businesses and jobs: We have worked hard to bring quality businesses to Snohomish, like the new retail center and two new businesses under construction on Bickford Avenue. These businesses will provide shopping opportunities, family-wage jobs and more sales tax revenue.
3. Pave streets and build new sidewalks: We have paved Avenue D, Second and 13th streets and the Highway 9-Second Street interchange. We developed the “pothole patrol” to patch city streets in record time. We built a new sidewalk on Pine Avenue and fought for a $140,000 grant to build more sidewalks.
Statement: It has been an honor to serve your family on council and serve as your volunteer mayor for the past two years. I am asking for your vote Nov. 8.
Fun fact: Getting married on New Year’s Eve.
Name: Doug Thorndike
Age: 57
Residence: Snohomish
Education: Bachelor of business administration, urban geography focus, University of Washington; master of business administration, Seattle University.
Occupation: Boeing finance analyst, 26 years.
Political experience: Nine years on council, including two as mayor; two years each on park board and planning commission; vice chairman, Snohomish County Tomorrow; board member, Community Transit.
Personal experience: Project management and financial analysis, budgeting and scheduling for several departments. Retired Navy senior cryptologic officer, 23 years.
Top three issues:
1. Preserve the character of our community and include new development without detracting from hometown Snohomish.
2. Support local businesses with reasonable regulations and sign codes so they can compete successfully.
3. Focus on citizens with improved police services and by completing the senior center.
Statement: I have the experience and vision to guide our hometown forward. Your vote for me means preserving historic Snohomish, supporting local businesses, encouraging community investment and protecting our environment
Fun fact: Owns classic Pontiac convertible parade car.
Position 7
Name: Chris Harper
Age: 35
Residence: Snohomish
Education: High school graduate
Occupation: Juvenile corrections officer for Snohomish County
Personal experience: Twice elected, February 2002 and February 2005, for vice president of Local 1811. Delegate to the Snohomish County Labor Council in 2003.
Professional experience: County employee with government experience, from the budget process to personnel issues.
Top three issues:
1. Economic vitality: Snohomish needs to be more business-friendly. The City Council needs to do a better job recruiting jobs. Attracting businesses creates more jobs, eases the tax burden on existing businesses and citizens while increasing tax revenue.
2. Growth: I believe there needs to be a good blend of single-family and multi-family residential homes. We must tackle growth responsibly and effectively to ensure the best use of land within the city’s urban growth area. I support smart growth while preserving the town’s historic qualities.
3. Streets and sidewalks: Improvements to our streets and sidewalks are overdue. While some strides have been made, we can do better. We must provide citizens a safe place to walk and drive on.
Statement: I have a vested interest and personal stake in this community and will work tirelessly to ensure a better quality of life for the citizens of this community.
Fun fact: I once paid $6 for a scoop of ice cream while stationed in Iceland.
Name: Dean Randall
Age: 52
Residence: Snohomish
Education: Bachelor’s degree, political science, University of Washington; master of business administration, University of Puget Sound.
Occupation: Network engineering specialist. I have worked for Verizon and GTE for more than 25 years.
Political experience: Snohomish City Council 1996-99.
Personal experience: Vice president of Zion Lutheran Church of Snohomish. Also has served on the Board of the Everett Community College Foundation. Completed Verizon and GTE training courses in management development project management, engineering economics and capital recovery and appraisal.
Top three issues:
1. Increase repairs and maintenance of streets and sidewalks.
2. Keep water and sewer rates down to help make the city an affordable and desirable place to live.
3. Encourage the growth of business parks and retail development along the Bickford Avenue corridor to create more jobs and additional sales tax revenue for the city.
Statement: I will use my business experience to direct the city to be more efficient. I have experience working with budgets. I will work for the betterment of the community.
Fun fact: I enjoy playing golf.
