Snohomish County’s growth and all the issues that spin off from it are complex and potentially polarizing. To deal with them successfully, County Council members need a firm grounding in the many nuances of growth, the ability to work toward good-faith compromises and the willingness to do so openly and transparently.
In the races to replace two council members who must leave because of term limits — Republican Gary Nelson in District 3 and Democrat Kirke Sievers in District 2 — we believe the candidates who best meet those criteria are Republican Renee Radcliff Sinclair and Democrat Brian Sullivan, respectively.
District 3: Sinclair and Democrat Mike Cooper are facing off in a contest between two respected former state legislators to represent the district, which includes Edmonds, Lynnwood and Woodway. Both have a firm grasp of growth issues, and both recently served on the county’s elected Charter Review Commission.
Sinclair is a moderate Republican known for her open-mindedness and ability to work constructively across the political aisle. Currently a county planning commissioner, she is well-versed in land-use issues, and understands that public safety and transportation — including roads and transit solutions — are two of the most important challenges that come along with growth.
An example of her ability to think creatively surfaced when she was asked about how to deal with daily gridlock on 164th Street in the Martha Lake area. Since more lanes aren’t a viable option, she said, why not explore the use of reversible lanes during heavy commuting hours? The center turn lanes would have to be closed during rush hour, but it’s already next to impossible to turn left on 164th during the commute, anyway. We don’t know whether the idea would work, but it represents the kind of fresh approach the county needs.
Cooper is a capable candidate who could serve well if elected. He’s been more partisan than Sinclair in the past, but his skillful, even-handed chairmanship of the Charter Review Commission suggests he may have moderated somewhat. The former firefighter would bring a credible public-safety voice to the council; he advocates benchmarking sheriff’s office staffing to national standards and coming up with a long-range plan to reach that level. Sinclair says the sheriff’s office should also focus on retaining deputies by doing more to help them reach their career goals.
District 2: Sullivan’s government experience at the local, county and state level, along with a well-earned reputation for working in a nonpartisan fashion, make him an easy choice in this race. His opponent, however, former Bainbridge Island Police Chief William Cooper, is a bright and thoughtful candidate who we think could have a political future.
Sullivan’s experience is broad and pertinent: mayor of Mukilteo for eight years, a state representative for five (he currently chairs the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee), and coordinator of Snohomish County Tomorrow, where county and city leaders hash out growth issues. The affable Sullivan is well-liked by leaders of both parties in Olympia, and has a strong reputation for listening and operating in the open. He’d be a constructive force on the council, and perhaps an effective bridge builder between the council and the executive’s office.
William Cooper is a heavy underdog in the decidedly Democratic District that includes Everett and Mukilteo, but he gets points for more than doing a good deed for his party by running. He’s intelligent and forward thinking, especially on public safety issues. He believes that if the sheriff’s office isn’t as effective as it could be, it has more to do with what it’s doing than its level of resources. By finding more efficient ways to deal with non-emergency calls, and placing a keener emphasis on the right goals and objectives, Cooper says the sheriff’s office could become more effective without more money.
Perhaps in four years, he’d make a strong candidate for sheriff.
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