A former Everett city councilman and Democratic state representative announced Thursday his candidacy to return to the council.

David Simpson, 50, said he has the experience and consensus-building skills needed to guide the city as it grapples with growth-related challenges.

Simpson, an Everett planning commissioner, said he worked for the Boeing Co. for many years and now is a customer service representative with Amtrak.

He recently served on the Snohomish County Charter Review Commission.

Before that, he held a 38th District House seat, representing Everett, parts of Marysville, the Tulalip reservation and the Snohomish Valley west of Highway 9.

Simpson will be running for an open seat left by City Councilman Bob Overstreet, who is retiring after 30 years on the council.

The only other announced candidate for the seat is Shannon Affholter, a pharmaceutical company representative and a north Everett neighborhood organizer.

Simpson served on the council from 1997 to 2001, finishing his term as council president. Mark Olson unseated him in the 2001 election.

Simpson said he is proud of major public works projects that occurred during his time on the council, including construction of the California Street overpass, a railroad overpass on Pacific Avenue and the opening of Everett Police Department’s south precinct.

He has not begun fundraising for the November campaign, according to documents with the state Public Disclosure Commission.

Council members Brenda Stonecipher, Ron Gipson and Drew Nielsen also will see their four-year terms expire this year.

Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.