The City of Edmonds has faced more than its share of challenges in the past four years, from revenue shortfalls to the fight over a regional sewage treatment plant.
As mayor, Gary Haakenson has faced tough issues with a level-headed sense of determination. The satisfaction with his performance is evident in the fact that he isn’t opposed for re-election by anyone on the City Council — the usual launching pad for a mayor bid.
Instead, Haakenson is being challenged by Steven Randall, a candidate with no experience in public office who by any standard isn’t ready to be a full-time mayor in a city the size of Edmonds.
Voters shouldn’t hesitate to elect Haakenson to a second term.
Haakenson has led by listening first. He promised to improve communication with citizens and has done so by holding town hall meetings and welcoming citizens into his office.
Tax-cutting initiatives and the poor economy have blown a hole in city revenues, and Haakenson has responded by proposing tough but necessary budget cuts. He stands ready to do so again if necessary, and voters can be confident that he’ll attempt to avoid public-safety cuts as much as possible. Voters can do their part to ease the public-safety crunch by approving the levy lid lift proposition on the Nov. 4 ballot.
If Edmonds moves back to the front burner as a site for the Brightwater sewage-treatment plant, Haakenson will be out front in opposing it.
Randall would bring a fiscally conservative approach to the budget, but doesn’t have the background to deal effectively with the complexities of being mayor. He would do better to start on a lower rung of the political ladder.
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