In five Snohomish County cities, voters narrowed their choices of city council candidates in Tuesday’s primary election.
The top two vote-getters in each of the 10 races will advance to the Nov. 8 general election.
Early vote returns showed:
Snohomish
Voters had an unusually large group of 12 candidates to choose from for City Council. Top issues for the candidates included the city’s new sign law, the proposed Bickford Avenue development and the need to expand the tax base to keep up with growth.
For Position 6, two incumbents, Doug Thorndike and Liz Loomis, had hefty leads over newcomer Bridget Fawcett Johns and will advance to the general election.
Loomis said she will focus on spending time with residents before the general election and listening to their thoughts about the community’s future.
“I want to make sure people have a say in growth,” she said.
Thorndike, who has been on the council for nine years, gave up his seat to take on Loomis, who was elected to the council in 1997 and has served as the council-appointed mayor since 2004. Thorndike couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.
Loomis and Thorndike have philosophical differences over growth. Loomis supported the new sign law as a tool for quality economic development and managed growth. Thorndike has criticized the measure, saying it’s too restrictive for local businesses.
For Position 4, Karen Guzak and R.C. “Swede” Johnson had large leads over newcomer Daryl Ferguson.
Guzak, a local artist and chairwoman of the city’s design review board, cited as a priority attracting quality businesses with environmentally sound practices.
“I still want to keep going door-to-door,” Guzak said of her general election campaign.
Johnson, who once served on the Snohomish County Council, said earlier he would like to support small businesses and encourage new economic development to increase the city’s tax base. Johnson couldn’t be reached for comment.
For Position 5, Rebecca Loveless, appointed to the council this year, and Randy Hamlin, a former city planning commission member, maintained comfortable leads over Tymon Johns, a 29-year-old newcomer.
Listening is a key in her campaign, Loveless said.
“It’s been very positive experience to me to learn what (residents’) interests are,” she said.
Hamlin said his message was simple: Strike a balance between economic development and preserving the town’s character.
“I’m also an independent thinker and represent the entire community,” he said.
Hamlin cited the need to expand the retail tax base, while Loveless emphasized economic development with good design and attractive public spaces.
For Position 7, with no incumbent seeking re-election, former City Councilman Dean Randall and Chris Harper, a juvenile corrections officer for Snohomish County, appeared to be advancing. Jason Redrup, an aircraft assembler, was trailing.
Randall and Harper said streets and sidewalks should be better maintained and improved.
Gold Bar
For City Council Position 1, incumbent Paul Price and Dorothy Croshaw, a former councilwoman, had comfortable leads over community activist Joan Marie Amenn.
Amenn led an attempted recall of Mayor Colleen Hawkins, who decided not to seek re-election to spend more time with her son.
Amenn’s husband, Robert Amenn, and Crystal Hill are vying for the mayoral post in November.
Edmonds
Two opponents of any increase in building heights for downtown Edmonds were leading their races for City Council.
Challenger Ron Wambolt held a large lead over one-term incumbent Jeff Wilson, with newcomer Bart Preecs a distant third.
In the other race, two-term incumbent Michael Plunkett was leading former Councilwoman Lora Petso in early returns. Restaurateur Strom Peterson was third.
“It’s actually not that surprising,” Wambolt said. “When you have the right issue and do a lot of hard work, then good things happen.”
Wambolt, 71, who is retired from the electronics industry, has been a regular presence at council meetings for years. Making his first try for public office, he said he rang doorbells at 1,400 homes.
“I can count on one hand the people who want taller buildings or are ambivalent,” he said.
Wilson, 45, served as an Edmonds city planner for six years before going to work for a Bellevue architectural firm five years ago. He was elected to the council in 2001. He’s taken heat for being willing to support height increases of 3 feet if accompanied by certain design features.
Plunkett, 53, a real estate agent, was elected to the council in 1997 and re-elected four years ago. He first campaigned as a budget hawk and public safety advocate, but has moved to the center of the council on most issues.
He remained steadfast this year, however, in opposition to relaxing building height restrictions downtown.
Petso, 43, a pension attorney, was elected to the council in 1999 and served four years before being ousted in 2003 by Peggy Pritchard Olson.
A staunch budget watchdog and neighborhood advocate, Petso often ruffled feathers during her term on the council with her sometimes confrontational style. She also opposes relaxing height restrictions. Petso is a commissioner with the Olympic View Water District.
Mountlake Terrace
Incumbents were comfortably leading the two contested City Council races in Mountlake Terrace.
Angela Amundson, seeking her second team, led newcomer Michael Jones. Cindy Bruce, also making her first try at public office, was third.
In the other race, one-term incumbent Doug Wittinger had a large lead over planning commissioner Kyoko Wright. Parks commissioner Gerald Conner was third.
Amundson, 51, is co-owner of the Cafe on the Terrace restaurant. Billing herself as a citizen advocate, she has often been at odds with city staff and about half the council.
Each of her opponents made cooperation and teamwork an issue. Jones, 50, is a corporate manager running for public office for the first time.
Wittinger, 41, was elected in 2001. An engineer with the Northshore Utility District, budget restraint and consistent code enforcement are among his top issues.
Wright, 55, a real estate agent, has been a city planning commissioner for three years. She calls for preserving neighborhoods and greater cooperation among city officials.
Bothell
Firefighter Del Spivey held a strong lead in the contest for an open City Council seat being vacated by Mike Johnson.
Planning commissioner Ernie Bellecy was second, and corporate controller Jeff Gard was third.
Spivey, 42, is a Bellevue firefighter and political affairs director of the firefighters’ union there.
Bellecy, 58, works as a regional pension consultant.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
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