Herald staff
While most city council members faced smooth sailing during the primary, several others were looking for life jackets Tuesday night.
Two incumbents on the Everett council, and one in Arlington, were coming in second to their primary challengers.
In Everett, challengers Arlan Hatloe and Roy Sykes gave incumbent Dan Warnock a run but not a rout.
Hatloe led Warnock by a comfortable margin as the two men advance to the Nov. 6 general election for Everett council seat No. 3.
Councilman David Simpson was running second to challenger Mark Olson in the three-way race for Everett council position No. 2.
Early returns indicate that Olson and Simpson will advance, eliminating Thelma Jean Hansen.
Simpson was elected in 1997 and is now council president.
"I’m looking forward to the general," Simpson said. "Halftime is over, so it’s onto the third and fourth quarter."
"We’re very encouraged by the results we’ve seen so far," Olson said. "We’re excited about the race, about where we hoped and expected to be, and greatly looking forward to November."
A political newcomer was hot on the trail of incumbent Frank Anderson, but he managed to hold a lead and will advance along with challenger Mary Ehrlich to the general election for Everett council position No. 1. Layton "Chip" Donaldson was eliminated.
The 57-year-old Ehrlich, who operates a bed and breakfast inn with her husband, believes the city needs to reclaim Everett’s quality of life by using a common-sense approach to development.
Anderson, a retired firefighter, has been a council member for 12 years. A small-business owner, Anderson, 62, says he wants another four years to help the city’s future economic development by courting more high-tech firms.
In Arlington, incumbent councilman Craig Hedlund was trailing Steve Baker, a building contractor taking his first crack at political office.
Hedlund, a councilman for the past 4 1/2years, picked up endorsements from fellow council members Marilyn Giebel and Sally Lien the week before the primary. He said he would continue to stress his experience and integrity, and welcomed the chance to highlight his record in office.
"I’m looking forward to debating. I want to know what his positions are on current and upcoming issues," Hedlund said.
Baker said he was a little surprised at his lead, but added that Arlington residents were ready for a change.
"I think the voters are speaking," Baker said. "People are very upset with the city, especially the businesses."
Some are angry that the council recently passed a storm-water utility that will mean more tax assessments against businesses and residents, he said. "Many people are upset about that. And they went ahead and passed it, with all the controversy. I think it might backfire against them."
In the other Arlington council race, for position 2, Ryan Larsen and Marvin Monty will square off in November for the chance to replace longtime councilwoman Bea Randall, according to early and unofficial vote counts.
In the battle of political newcomers, Vincent Danner was trailing behind his two primary opponents.
The winner in the general election will replace Randall, who has been on the city council for more than two decades. Randall said she wanted to step down to give someone else a chance to serve the city, and also so she could take vacations with her husband.
Larsen said it was too soon to comment on the early vote returns. And Monty also said it was too early to assume he would be advancing. But he was happy that many Arlington voters had cast their ballots for him. "I appreciate their votes," Monty said.
Name recognition and longevity was what seemed to work for incumbent NormaJean Dierck, who had the early lead in the three-way race for Marysville council position No. 1.
Tom Grady also will advance, eliminating Randy Davis.
In Monroe, it looks like an incumbent councilman and the current mayor will be meeting each other in the general election. In a race of four candidates, councilman Jim Hunnicutt and Mayor Bob Holman will be advancing, vying for position 3.
Hunnicutt appeared to have taken the majority of votes.
"I am hopeful that will continue," he said. "I can’t thank those who voted for me enough, and those who worked in this campaign.
"The next step will be a race. But the people in Monroe are intelligent, and when this is over, we will persevere," Hunnicutt said.
It was a four-way brouhaha for the post. Holman decided to run for a council seat after serving as mayor for six years. He has been a councilman in the past, and said his retail gun and sporting business is taking more of his time. But he still wants to serve the city, as a councilman and not mayor.
Wayne Rodland and Robert Wilcox also sought the position in an attempt to knock Hunnicutt off the council, who has been at odds with the pair in previous years.
Rodland opted not to run for re-election to his own seat so he could run against Hunnicutt. It appears now that he will leave the council at the end of the year. Wilcox, a former councilman, also filed for the seat, but later threw his support to Holman. However, his name still appeared on Tuesday’s ballot.
When Rodland decided not to run for his position 2 seat, current councilwoman Penny Sopris-Kegerreis chose to file for the four-year seat and vacated her two-year at-large position. "Penny K," as she is known, was leading in primary results Tuesday night.
It’s likely she will face political newcomer Art Larson, who has been a community activist for the Fryelands neighborhood for the past few years.
"I’m happy with those first numbers," she said. "I would like to win. There’s a lot yet to be done here in Monroe, and I want to be a part of that."
"I’m very excited," Larson said. "Penny is way out in front. But my showing looks strong. And there’s a lot of time to close the gap before the general election. I think we can do it."
With the game of musical chairs, the at-large position is open to a new face. Early returns on Tuesday showed downtown businessman William Craig trailing to Bruce Hansen and Verna Korslund, both taking their first stab at council level politics in Monroe.
Hansen was celebrating his early advantage.
"Making it to the general election is the important part," he said. "From here, we’ll see."
Elsewhere, in Granite Falls, Ray Huff Jr. and James Raymond appeared to be headed for the general election race for the position 3 council seat being vacated by councilman Dave Larsen, who chose not to run for re-election.
Huff campaigned on a platform of attending to the traffic problems the city has. Raymond also said he supports a by-pass to eliminate traffic issues downtown.
Raymond said he was pleased with the results.
"It feels good," he said. "I’m elated, and I hope for the best in November."
In Bothell, voters narrowed the field of contenders for City Council position 5 from three to two.
Incumbent Jeff Merrilland and challenger Mike Johnson appear to be headed for the general election, dropping Michael Foote out of the running.
Merrill, who has served eight years on the council, is seeking his third four-year term. Johnson has been a city planning commissioner for five years.
In Edmonds, incumbent Michael Plunkett and Richard Demeroutis will vie for position 1. Plunkett is seeking his second four-year term,
For city council position 3, Syd Locke and Jeff Wilson will advance to the general election. The seat was vacated when Chris Davis, appointed to the council in January 2000, resigned this June after being charged with two counts of forgery. Davis would have been up for re-election this term.
In Lake Stevens council position 1, incumbent Jack Blackwell will move on to the November election. It was too close to call which challenger, Nick McLauchlan or Julie Estep, may advance.
Blackwell is seeking a third term.
McLauchlan has said building sidewalks should be a high priority and making sure government is accountable. Estep has said her issues include sidewalks, safety, city finances and finding solutions by thinking out of the box.
"It sounds like the people of Lake Stevens want a change," Estep said Tuesday night.
— Herald writers Brian Kelly, Kate Reardon, Theresa Goffredo, Leslie Moriarty and Janice Podsada contributed to this report.
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