EVERETT – A state senator and a former police chief have launched their campaigns for Snohomish County Council in District 2, which represents Everett and Mukilteo.
Democratic state Sen. Jean Berkey of Everett and Republican Bill Cooper, who is the former Bainbridge Island police chief, said they want to join the council when County Councilman Kirke Sievers leaves at the end of the year.
Sievers cannot seek re-election because of term limits.
Democratic state Rep. Brian Sullivan has campaigned for the council position since last fall.
The job currently pays $94,266.
The candidate filing period is June 4-8.
Berkey, 68, is a longtime Everett resident with strong political ties to the area’s leaders.
She has served in the Legislature since 2001.
She was appointed to the state House of Representatives in 2001 and ran for re-election in 2001 and 2003. In 2004, she was appointed to the state Senate after Aaron Reardon left the Senate following his election to county executive. Voters sent Berkey back to the Senate in elections in 2004 and 2006.
She was a campaign manager for former County Executive Bob Drewel, U.S. Rep. Al Swift and Paull Shin’s run for Congress. Professionally, she was a manager at Berkey and Associates for 20 years.
She has a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Washington.
Cooper, 55, is a corporate security investigator for Microsoft and a former police chief.
Cooper has about 30 years experience in police and public safety work. In addition to being Bainbridge Island’s chief, he has worked for the Tumwater, Bellevue and Redmond police departments, as well as the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission.
Cooper had planned to run for county sheriff, but was recruited by the county Republican party to run for the County Council, he said.
He has written a book about public administration and a guide on terrorism security. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Washington State University and master’s degrees from City University in business administration and public administration.
Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.
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