MONROE — Two issues keep putting this city of 17,000 people in the spotlight: traffic enforcement cameras and the coming of Walmart.
Ivan Nelson, R. Todd Fredrickson and Ed Davis, the three candidates vying for Position 5 at the City Council, have different opinions on these two issues.
They mostly agree, however, about the need to make the budget leaner and to bring more businesses to Monroe.
Incumbent John Stima decided against seeking election, opening the doors for a new council member for this four-year position.
The post pays $100 a meeting although retreats pay extra.
Council members can make a maximum of $5,100 a year.
A second council race is on the Aug. 16 primary ballot. While the names of three candidates will appear, one of them has pulled out of race. Joey Santone has moved outside the city limits, making him ineligible for the position. He moved after the deadline to withdraw had passed.
Councilwoman Bridgette Tuttle and challenger Jason Gamble, general manager for Frontier Communications, are the remaining candidates.
The three have different views on traffic-enforcement cameras. Fredrickson is in favor but says the council should have respected the initiative process.
Davis said the cameras bring more trouble than they solve. Nelson believes, if the people want it, the cameras should be taken down.
About Walmart, another polarizing topic, Fredrickson said it is a bad fit for the city. He wants the N. Kelsey area to have different kinds of businesses that would appeal to a diverse crowd. He suggested the Tulalips could build a casino and a bowling alley.
Nelson would focus on making downtown and other businesses more attractive by making them “more unique,” having them sell products not found in Wal-Mart.
It is too early to say if the big-box store would negatively or positively affect Monroe, Davis said.
Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.
Monroe City Council, Position 5
Ed Davis
Age: 56
Occupation: Transportation security inspector with the Transportation Security Administration for railroads and buses in Washington, Montana and Wyoming.
Education: Studied business administration, University of Maine at Orono in 1984. Also studied professional aeronautics at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the early 1980s.
In his own words: “I see this position as a way to serve my community. What I offer is responsible government.”
Priorities: Make sound decisions, meet the requirements of the city and leave things better than how he found them.
R. Todd Fredrickson
Age: 47
Occupation: Corrections sergeant, Monroe Correctional Complex.
Education: Graduated from correctional officers academy at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission in 1989.
In his own words: “The budget is on everyone’s mind. There’s not a single solution but there are many small solutions.”
Priorities: Creating a more efficient budget, attracting businesses with better paying jobs, and develop the N. Kelsey area.
Ivan Nelson
Age: 50
Occupation: Salesman for Keller Supply Company in Redmond
Education: Graduated from Bellevue High School. Attended classes at then Bellevue Community College.
In his own words: “I want Monroe on a map for more than U.S. 2 and the prison.”
Priorities: Enhance downtown by making it more accessible to traffic and develop Monroe by attracting unique businesses.
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