Three Everett council members won’t seek re-election

EVERETT — The Everett City Council will be getting new faces this year as three incumbents are not seeking re-election.

Councilman Jeff Moore will conclude his council tenure after three terms. Councilman Scott Baderwill step down, too, at year’s end, though he has designs on running again. And Councilman Scott Murphy is running for a different elected office.

Moore said he’s known for a while that this would be his final term. The move to district elections in the city wasn’t a factor for him, the only incumbent who lives in District 5 in south Everett.

“This is a decision my wife and I made a couple of years ago to spend more time with our children and grandchildren,” he said. “I will say that this has not been an easy decision because it truly has been an honor and privilege to serve our citizens.”

Moore was first elected in 2009 and re-elected in 2013 and 2017. Prior to that, he served on the city’s Planning Commission and Board of Review.

He has been a lifelong resident of the city except for a few years when he and his family lived just outside of the southern boundary. That changed after the successful annexation of his neighborhood into the city in 2006, an effort led by Moore.

Moore has followed in his father’s footsteps. Bill Moore joined the City Council before becoming mayor from 1977 to 1990, making him one of the city’s longest serving mayors.

“While it was not in my playbook to run for City Council, there was enough community encouragement that my family and I decided to run,” he said. “I guess people believe that public service is hereditary. This has been a highly rewarding experience and I truly believe that this great city is poised for an amazing future.”

While Moore is concluding his council service, he will continue his day job as chief financial officer for Everett Public Schools.

Switching to district elections factored into Bader’s and Murphy’s thinking. But, each said, it didn’t drive their decisions.

Bader, Murphy and Councilman Paul Roberts all live in District 1, which spans the Bayside, Delta, Northwest and Riverside neighborhoods in north Everett. That meant all three could have sought the same seat. Now Roberts is the only incumbent in that district.

Bader said he planned to move to south Everett, where he grew up, and run in District 5, which encompasses the Cascade View, Pinehurst-Beverly Park, Twin Creeks and Silver Lake neighborhoods. But it didn’t work out. He and his wife did not find a home, as they had hoped.

Bader joined the council in 2012, filling the vacancy created by the death of Drew Nielsen. Bader won a four-year-term in 2015. In 2019, his term was shortened to two years to accommodate the city’s transition to district elections.

He did not rule out running in 2023, when the seats held by council members Judy Tuohy and Brenda Stonecipher are on the ballot. Those seats are at-large and place of residence is not a factor.

“My inclination is to see what Brenda and Judy decide to do,” Bader said. “I enjoy the council. You do feel good when you’re helping people.”

Murphy acknowledged the advent of district elections “changed the complexion” of the electoral landscape. But, he said, he had been weighing other options for civic service.

He settled on running for a seat on the Port of Everett Commission. He is taking on incumbent Commissioner David Simpson, a former city council member and state lawmaker.

“I was ready for new challenges,” Murphy said. “I was ready for a new opportunity.”

Murphy was appointed to the council in 2013, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Arlan Hatloe. He won a four-year term in 2013 and again in 2017.

“It’s been a great experience,” he said. “It feels like it’s time for something different.”

Reporter Jerry Cornfield: jcornfield@heraldnet.com; @dospueblos.