There is no shortage of challenges for the Lynnwood City Council as it charts a path into a future that will see continued growth and increasing demands on its roads, parks and public safety services.
Fortunately, there’s no shortage of people willing to run for public office in Lynnwood. Each of the four races this election season have at least two candidates; two of them had three candidates file, requiring a primary election Aug. 4 to pick the top two for the Nov. 3 general election.
Ballots for the primary election will go out in the mail Thursday and must be postmarked or delivered to drop boxes by Aug. 4.
Loren Simmonds is seeking a fifth four-year term for Position No. 4 on the council. He is challenged by Shirley Sutton, who currently serves on the city’s Neighborhoods and Demographic Diversity Commission; and Maria Ambalada, who is a member of the city’s Planning Commission.
Benjamin Goodwin is seeking a second term for Position No. 5. He is challenged by Chris Frizzell, who works as an accountant. A third candidate, Douglas Jones, has dropped from the race; however, his name will remain on the ballot.
Position No. 4: The Herald endorses Simmonds, who, even as he nears 16 years of service on the council, demonstrates a desire to put in the time demanded and has the necessary background knowledge of the issues the city faces.
There is little that separates the three candidates on the issues.
All expressed concern for how Lynnwood will fund the maintenance of its roads, but agreed with the recent decision by the city’s Transportation Benefit District, which is comprised of all seven council members, not to send another request to the voters to approve a sales tax increase to pay for road improvements. Simmonds noted that with Community Transit and Sound Transit each preparing tax increase requests, it seemed too great a burden to add to the sales tax, a position with which his challenges agreed.
The candidates all recommended further consideration of a proposal to contract with or partner with Fire District No. 1 for its fire and emergency medical services. A larger partnership with other agencies was rejected earlier as too unwieldy, but Simmonds said a partnership with the fire district might save money without negatively effecting public safety.
Simmonds expresses a desire to complete what he sees as unfinished business for Lynnwood. We believe he merits that opportunity. Sutton and Ambalada have much to recommend them in their desire to contribute to their city’s well-being. We encourage them to continue in their current positions and seek other such opportunities in the future.
Position No. 5: Here the choice is even tougher.
Goodwin has shown himself to be a thoughtful, collaborative and effective council member, encouraging the city to post audio of council meetings to the city’s website, for example. He also recognizes that, while ballot measures by the two transit agencies might warrant that the city wait to seek more road funding itself, the city has a responsibility to address that work soon or risk having to do it later at even greater cost. A sales tax increase, which is paid by those shopping in Lynnwood, also spreads the responsibility more fairly to those driving on city streets, he said.
A background in accounting doesn’t automatically qualify someone for office, but it could prove a useful tool in the hands of Frizzell, who has already done some impressive homework, not only in attending meetings and reviewing the budget but in conferring with city staff, including the city’s new finance director.
While not dismissing the city’s needs, particularly for roads and public safety, Frizzell said she believes Lynnwood officials need to do a better job of prioritizing its needs and explaining to residents how the city is spending its tax revenues.
Frizzell has volunteered her time with programs serving the homeless and shows an understanding of the issues involved and a compassion for the city’s homeless residents. She’s familiarized herself with Everett’s Streets Initiative and appreciates the steps it is taking. But Frizzell said the issues of homelessness and addiction also need to be addressed at a county-wide level to avoid simply shifting the problems from one city to the next.
Both Goodwin and Frizzell deserve to move past the primary, but the nod in the general goes to Frizzell.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
