New Gold Bar mayor has vision

GOLD BAR – Crystal Hill, 27, is raising five children ages 2 to 11 with her partner while working full time as a paralegal.

In January, she will add another job to her busy schedule: mayor of Gold Bar.

Michael V. Martina / The Herald

Crystal Hill helps her daughter Jadyn, 2, with a backpack at their home. She lives with her two children, her boyfriend, Shad Cooper, and his three children. Cooper’s son Ian sits on the stairs. Hill, a 27-year-old paralegal will take over as mayor of Gold Bar in January.

Perhaps because of her supportive family or up to 10 cups of coffee a day, Hill said, she has the energy and time and is up for the challenge.

“I want to see Gold Bar move forward,” she said of the town where officials have talked of disbanding because of poor finances.

Twenty years from now, Hill said, she would like the city of about 2,000 to be a place where people can raise children and retire and where tourists on U.S. 2 stop and spend money at local businesses.

The town has a long way to go to make that vision a reality. Tax-cut initiatives have drained the city’s coffers. Without a sewer system, the city doesn’t expect rapid growth with new businesses, which would boost the retail tax base.

Hill’s biggest goal is to increase volunteerism, she said. She would like to start a newsletter to inform residents about meeting schedules and town projects, and she plans to form committees to brainstorm ideas for parks and economic development.

Gold Bar mayor

Name: Crystal Hill

Age: 27

Salary: $300 per month, part-time

Past service: One year on Gold Bar City Council.

Articles on the new mayors in Gold Bar, Brier, Stanwood, Lynnwood and Mukilteo will appear in The Herald in the next five days.

Those measures would help the city save money and motivate people, Hill said, adding that she has no political ambitions beyond being mayor.

“I want to see Gold Bar be more self-sufficient,” she said.

Hill said she would like to work with the City Council as a facilitator based on common sense.

“What I will not encourage and what I don’t tolerate is unprofessionalism and grandstanding,” the Sultan High School graduate said. “I believe a situation can be mediated and agreement can be made, even if it’s not unanimous.”

Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.