Sultan city council veterans prepare to turn over reins

By Leslie Moriarty

Herald Writer

SULTAN — There are no sad good-byes for retiring Sultan City Council members Robert Ostrom and Carolyn Eslick.

They aren’t going far. The two, both six-year veterans of the council, decided not to run for re-election in November, opting to sit on the sidelines for awhile.

Both have lived in Sultan for 23 years and between them they share an institutional knowledge about the city and who’s who.

"It just felt like it was time to give my seat to someone new, someone younger with lots of energy," said Ostrom, who will soon turn 70.

Five of the council’s seven positions were up for election this year with Bruce Champeaux, Robert Criswell, Dustin Boucher, Jeff Everett and Mark Raney winning election or re-election to the council.

A retired Navy man who spent more than 10 years in municipal finance, Ostrom settled in Sultan in 1978. He spent six years on the planning commission before running for city council.

In his public service, he’s learned that compromise is necessary.

"I’ve seen that new members come onto the council with strong opinions one way or the other," he said. "But the longer they are on the council, the more they move to the center. They learn to see the other side, and they learn to compromise. They become more astute politicians."

He is most proud of having been a part of many new projects in Sultan.

"We have a new community center," he said. "And we’ve added a high-tech sewer plant and a water-treatment plant. We’ve done a lot to improve our streets and our parks, and we’ve gone into the food bank business."

Until recently, Eslick owned the Dutch Cup Restaurant for 20 years. She’s lived in Sultan for 23 years and is thinking about getting into state politics.

She, too, thought it was time to see a new face on the council.

"It was time for me to do something new," she said.

She is working in the financial world and may go back to school.

Like Ostrom, she is most proud of the council’s work to establish the food bank and community center, which opened in 1999, and houses city hall and the library.

"The community center is part of the overall revitalization of downtown," she said. "It’s been a great start to that project."

She hopes the new council will come to an agreement on how to have balanced growth in the city and surrounding area.

"We can’t grow too fast," she said. "But we need to grow fast enough that we don’t lose out on what people need to live here, have jobs here and do business here."

As a longtime member of the Sultan Chamber of Commerce, Eslick said the city needs to pay attention to bringing new business to downtown.

She plans to watch, too, that the council finishes the work she helped start on the city’s emergency evacuation route.

Both Eslick and Ostrom said they think the community is coming together after some rough times. There have been recall efforts against council members and Mayor C.H. Rowe in the past few years, and several city employees who were either fired or quit.

"Since the elections in November, there has been a calmness in town," Eslick said. "The opposing sides have begun to back off, and everybody seems to be smiling at one another again.

"The problems we have to deal with are probably not over, but at least the anger is gone."

Ostrom agreed.

"Citizens need a break from all of that," he said. "I think the bad feelings are all a closed chapter, and people here are ready to go forward."

You can call Herald Writer Leslie Moriarty at 425-339-3436

or send e-mail to moriarty@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.