Citing issues ranging from preserving property owners’ rights to preserving the city’s historic downtown area, six candidates have lined up in the race for three Snohomish City Council seats.
Political newcomers Lya Badgley and Greg Osborne are running for Position 1, the at-large seat.
Two local businessmen are vying for Position 2, bed and breakfast owner Larry Countryman and coffee shop owner Don Everest.
Councilwoman Susan Palmer and lifelong Snohomish resident Melody Clemans are up for Position 3.
Lya Badgley, a former international projects manager and Eddie Bauer customer service representative, said she has the time and the world perspective to effect change. She has been making herself available to voters, she said, particularly by ringing doorbells all over town to meet people.
"I just want to reiterate my commitment to the town," Badgley said. "I have the time, the resources and the analytical skills to study and research complicated issues."
Greg Osborne is a full-time Snohomish firefighter. He said he has started to study two aspects of the city in particular — the new senior center and water and sewer rates.
"I’m wholeheartedly in support of a new senior center. It’s a real neat thing for the city to be involved with to help pay back the seniors. I’d like to help see it through," he said.
He’s also pushing for lower water rates, especially for those who embrace conservation.
Though candidates Countryman and Everest are both Snohomish businessmen, they are approaching their run for council from different directions.
Larry Countryman is a strong supporter of property rights, and believes his small-business experience gives him a good perspective on the city. He said a majority of the City Council members are working on his campaign.
"I’m pleased with that," he said. "I truly want to represent the people of Snohomish and their concerns on the city. I am available to them because I’m self-employed. I’m here."
Don Everest, also a small-business owner, said he knows what the historic district needs to succeed. Everest said win or lose, he’d like to accomplish some things in Snohomish, including establishing the city as a tourist destination.
"I’d sure like to help this town along, because it’s a pretty wonderful place to live," he said.
Palmer the council’s only incumbent to make it past the primary election, will match up against Clemans, an independent insurance agent, for Position 3.
Susan Palmer said she believes it is possible to preserve the city’s charm and heritage while marketing some areas of the city to larger companies to help increase its tax base.
Palmer said her extensive experience on the council and in other community capacities allows her to understand the city’s issues.
Melody Clemens, too, wants to work to broaden the tax base without increasing taxes. She said she has been walking all over the city to connect with residents about the issues.
"With the knowledge of those issues, I feel like I can step into City Council and hit the ground running," Clemans said. "I have a strong personal background, as far as knowing the community so well by having been born and raised here. I think I have a very broad and distinct understanding of what our community is all about, the uniqueness of it and the need to preserve that."
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