Mukilteo candidates say no to Paine Field flights, yes to public safety

Candidates running for Mukilteo City Council have been hearing an earful from city residents: parking issues at Lighthouse Park, traffic issues, development of Japanese Gulch as a city park and solidifying the future of the city’s finances. Voters will sort through eight candidates to decide who is elected to the four contested City Council seats.

Position 4

In this race, incumbent Steve Schmalz is being challenged by Nicole Thomsen.

Schmalz serves on the council’s finance committee. He said the city has to align its budget with its priorities, such as providing adequate police and fire protection to keep residents safe. Before approving a tax increase, the city should carefully review the budget to see where cuts can be made, he said.

Schmalz said he also wants to find ways to curb excessive speeding on residential streets. Other cities have installed traffic circles, he said. While some circles have been approved for Mukilteo, “we need more, I would say at least a half dozen. Instead of having an officer on a block watching traffic, we could have a traffic calming device.”

Thomsen said she thinks the city can do a far better job of listening to the community. “I think we need to start asking the questions and really get the feedback from the 95 percent of people who don’t write letters to the editor or attend council meetings,” she said. This could happen with coffee meetings or other informal events to invite the people in to discuss their concerns, she said.

Thomsen said she’s concerned about equity issues, especially with housing. Although the city has a lot of good businesses, not all of their employees can live in the city, she said. The city might consider allowing additional housing units in existing structures, or small detached units such as converted garages, she said.

Position 5

In the Position 5 race, Mohammed Riaz Khan and Scott Whelpley are seeking to fill the council seat held by Emily Vanderwielen.

“My number one thing is traffic,” Khan said, adding that the signal lights on some of the city’s busiest roads are not synchronized. He said he also would like to see more sidewalks built and bike lanes added.

Khan said the city needs more vehicles and staff in the police department and more money for salaries and training for the fire department. “I fully support public safety, the fire and police department,” he said. Khan is opposed to adding air passenger service at Paine Field — “zero flights,” he said.

Whelpley said he has regularly attended City Council meetings for the past two years. As a single parent of school-age children, and as a veteran and a Hispanic, Whelpley said he thinks he would bring a diversity to the City Council that it hasn’t had before.

Whelpley said he’s gone through the city’s 268-page budget and thinks the council needs to examine it line by line. If there’s still not money for needed projects, such as street resurfacing, the city may have to consider a tax increase, he said. Whelpley said he’s against adding commercial aviation services at Paine Field.

Position 6

Activist Jon Boyce is challenging Richard Emery, who previously served six years on the City Council.

Boyce, a 22-year resident of Mukilteo, said that if he is elected, he would work against any future annexation plans. He said he would like to expand sidewalk projects, add traffic calming devices, and balance the city’s budget without tax increases.

Boyce said that he would like to see a step taken at Paine Field similar to that at some European airports, a curfew on late evening and early morning flights, perhaps from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Emery said that an estimated 85 percent of the voters he’s talked to are opposed to adding passenger flights at Paine Field, a position he shares.

Emery said the core issue with the city’s waterfront area is that there’s not enough space to meet the demand for parking. The Lighthouse Park pay-to-park program still has glitches to be worked out. The purpose of the parking program was to help open more parking spots, he said.

“The turnover helps. People stay two to three hours and then leave,” he said. “That means more people have the opportunity to be at the park.”

Position 7

In this race, incumbent Christine Cook is being challenged by Charlie Eakins, a first-time political candidate.

Cook said that continuing development of the city’s waterfront area is a key issue because it “will define the character of the city.” Seven acres of the former U.S. Air Force’s tank farm site have been transferred to the city, which is developing a plan on how to use the land.

Cook said she would like to see a senior center established and has been working with the Mukilteo Seniors Association on where such a center could be located and how to pay for it. She said she would like to see the city work with the state to develop better traffic signal sequencing.

Eakins said there’s a software solution for the some of the traffic jams caused by ill-timed traffic lights. “It’s basically a smart grid,” a combination of cameras and metal-detection sensors to help count cars and assure better traffic flow, he said. “I think traffic should be the highest priority thing we work on,” he said.

Eakins said he would also like to see more broadband competition to give consumers a choice. Competition for the broadband market would bring more jobs to the area, he said.

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

Position 4

Steve Schmalz

Age: 51

Experience: Almost 4 years on Mukilteo City Council

Website: stevehearsyou.net

Nicole Thomsen

Age: 39

Experience: Works for Public Health — Seattle &King County, served on city’s planning commission

Website: www.facebook.com/CommitteeForNicoleThomsen

Position 5

Mohammed Riaz Khan