MUKILTEO — Candidates here are in near unanimous agreement.
The key to the City Council election is found outside of Mukilteo, just beyond the city’s current southern border.
Mukilteo has been eyeing a swath of land near Picnic Point and Highway 99 for a possible — and controversial — annexation.
The area would add 11,000 residents and a commercial district to what is currently a city with 20,110 people.
Annexation would help the city’s finances, say advocates, who point to sales tax credits. Opponents vehemently disagree.
They find other faults, too.
“It changes the whole complexion of the city of Mukilteo. (Annexation) changes it from what it was to just another sprawled, urban arrangement,” said Bruce Simpson, who said he’s running primarily to oppose the annexation.
Simpson, who declined to give his age, will face incumbent Richard Emery and fellow challenger Ed Kunigonis for Position 2.
Council members are elected to four-year terms that pay $6,000 a year.
Emery was appointed to fill the seat in 2008 after former councilman Rep. Marko Liias was appointed to the state Legislature.
Emery says he is concerned about annexation’s timing.
Adding land without fixing the city’s fundamental budget problems is a mistake, he said.
The city has wrestled with budget shortfalls this year.
“We need to prove we can be responsible in managing our own affairs before we take on somebody else’s,” said Emery, who believes the city should wait until 2010 to decide the issue.
Kunigonis said he recognizes that annexation is the city’s biggest issue.
Still, he refused to say what he wanted the city to do.
“The focus and the theme of my campaign is that I’m a listener. It is not what my personal opinion is on any of these issues,” Kunigonis said.
The race for Position 2 is the only Mukilteo race on the August ballot.
In November, Mayor Joe Marine will face a re-election challenge from challenger Pat Smith, 56, a software consultant.
Councilman Kevin Stoltz is also facing a challenge for City Council Position 1. Patty Cooper, 56, a retired 911 operator.
Randy Lord, the current council president, is running unopposed for re-election to Position 3.
Chris Fyall: 425-339-3447, cfyall@heraldnet.com.
@List subhead:Richard Emery
Age: 61
Contractor, landlord
@List subhead:Ed Kunigonis
Age: 55
Senior security manager, Boeing
@List subhead:Bruce Simpson
Age: N/A
Ace Hardware employee
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