EVERETT – A candidate who bills himself as a voice for the working class, a political newcomer who has raised a surprising amount of money, and a former state lawmaker are vying for an open seat on the Everett City Council in this month’s primary.
The two candidates who earn the most votes will face off in the general election in November.
The candidates for Everett City Council Position 7 are seeking to replace City Council veteran Bob Overstreet, who is retiring from politics this year, after serving 30 years on the council.
Shannon Affholter, 39, a pharmaceutical field representative, is running in his first race for public office. He’s raised $22,000, or about five times the other two candidates combined, according to state election records.
Jackie Minchew, 57, a union representative who is a Silver Firs Elementary School music teacher, said he supports affordable housing and believes the city should do its part in reducing global warming. He ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 2005.
David Simpson, 51, a service representative with Amtrak, has the most public service experience. He is a former Democratic state representative and Everett city councilman and currently serves on the planning commission.
Affholter said his success at fundraising reflects well on his campaign’s focus on improving traffic, parks, jobs and public safety.
He said he would bring new energy to the council, because he has a young family and is active with the city’s neighborhoods and parks.
“We have a great message and I think that’s why we’re resonating so well within the city of Everett,” he said.
He also serves on the city’s parks and recreation board.
Minchew makes an issue of how much money Affholter has raised and where it has come from, because some of Affholter’s largest financial backers include developers with projects before the city.
Minchew, who lives in the Lowell neighborhood, also said Affholter’s election to the council would continue what Minchew describes as disproportionate political influence in north Everett.
Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson and five of seven members of the city council live in the neighborhood north of 19th Street and east of Broadway.
Affholter leads a network of block watches in that neighborhood.
“People outside of the northwest power corridor agree with me passionately,” said Minchew, who is the chairman of the 44th Legislative District Democrats, and a union representative.
Affholter, who said he supports expanding parks on the south side, said he would represent the entire city no matter where he lives.
Simpson said his tenure on the City Council and in Olympia give him the experience and consensus-building skills needed to guide the city as it grapples with growth-related challenges.
“Those years of experience that I have makes me stand out,” he said.
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 the Everett Police Department’s south precinct.
Simpson 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 served on the council from 1997 to 2001, finishing his term as council president. Mark Olson unseated him in the 2001 election.
Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.
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