LYNNWOOD — With his city having undergone so much criticism the past couple of years, City Councilman Loren Simmonds is facing two challengers in his bid for re-election.
John Conley, a retired pipefitter, and Michael Moore, who has his own parking lot maintenance business, each slam the city for raising taxes recently to balance the budget.
The city is spending too much money, such as on its new $24.5 million recreation center, Conley said.
“All these taxes they’ve put through, they hurt me,” he said, explaining that he’s living on a fixed income.
The city recently approved a $20 car-tab fee to help pay for road maintenance, raised property taxes and approved new utility taxes.
“I consider taxes legalized larceny,” Conley added. “They’re necessary, but when people spend irresponsibly, they say, ‘We’ll just go to the taxpayers and make a new tax.'”
Conley also blasted the city’s red-light enforcement cameras, contending they are a deterrent to shoppers.
Simmonds said the cameras were installed because of complaints about drivers speeding and running red lights in neighborhoods. He said in the first half of this year, the number of citations is down — an indication, he said, that the cameras are influencing behavior. City records are inconclusive, however, about whether the cameras have reduced the overall number of accidents.
Moore said he ran partly to bring some new blood to the city. “It doesn’t seem like there’s a lot of young people in politics,” said Moore, 38.
He, too, said he wants to make sure the city doesn’t raise any more taxes.
“My utility bill has almost doubled,” Moore said. “That takes money away from me and takes money away from families. They just seemed to think they can keep going after the citizens for more money.”
Simmonds said that for many years, Lynnwood residents paid lower taxes than people in many other cities because of a strong retail base. Now, with that base having taken a hit from the poor economy, the city has to fill in with new revenue to cover basic services such as road maintenance and public safety, he said.
“You either pay for it now or you pay for it later, and if you put it off the price tag is going to be a whole lot more,” Simmonds said.
The recreation center, according to Simmonds, is a regional attraction and has drawn more than 10,000 people per month through its doors in its first three months.
Eventually, Simmonds would like to see the city diversify with new jobs in light manufacturing or high-end office space “that pay a family wage job.”
Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.
Lynnwood City Council
John Conley
Age: 62
Occupation: Retired pipefitter for Washington Natural Gas and Puget Sound Energy
Website: None
Education: Attended Gonzaga University for two years
In their words: “I like to be open and honest with the people.”
Priorities: Lower taxes, economic development, getting rid of red-light cameras.
Michael Moore
Age: 38
Occupation: Owns business that maintains and stripes parking lots
Website: www.electmichaelmoore.com
Education: Attended Edmonds, Everett Community College
In their words: “We need some new blood in there.”
Priorities: Public safety, keeping taxes down.
Loren Simmonds
Age: 68
Occupation: Development consultant for non-profit organizations
Website: None for the campaign. City Council information available at tinyurl.com/LorenSimmonds
Education: M.A in psychology from Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, Calif.; Master of divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Calif.
In their words: Regarding recent tax increases to balance the budget: “We’re very much aware of the fact that people are impacted by this. The bottom line is we are a full-service city.”
Priorities: Diversifying the city’s economy; rebuilding infrastructure, such as water mains; maintaining public safety.
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