Thank you.
To all the brave souls who filed for public office and turned their complaints about government into action, or just thought they’d like to serve, or thought they’d like to continue as key but mostly unthanked cogs in the American way of life, thank you.
Predictably, the races in areas with the most current unrest garnered the most interest as the 5 p.m. filing deadline came and went on June 8.
In Shoreline, every city council and every school board opening has at least two candidates and most have three.
Not too hard to imagine, given the power plays on the city council and the school district slogging through a financial quagmire. But, just because everyone has an opinion doesn’t necessarily mean anyone would step forward. Shoreline voters will have some real and significant choices to make in August and again in November.
In Edmonds, where economic development and stray cats are apparent hot buttons for the city council, only one incumbent gets a free pass and the other three races should be well-run. Interestingly, the mayor’s job went from fridge to front burner with two unexpected challengers to the incumbent, one from a lame-duck council member and the other a city employee.
Two out of three openings on the Edmonds School Board will offer choices. Public schools, which actually have a greater property-tax impact than cities, often draw heart-felt candidacies. In Edmonds, issues around money and property are likely to spawn campaign pronouncements.
The Lynnwood council races are notable for what they lack: infighting. True, the mayor’s chair isn’t up for dibs this year, but that wouldn’t necessarily stop this group of veterans. Still, three out of four incumbents have challengers with one race wide open after the incumbent appointee decided that nibble was enough.
One might have expected a little more action in Mountlake Terrace, where the council has literally gone to counseling. Still, two out of three races have challengers.
The other side of the coin is represented by Brier and Lake Forest Park.
Brier went through its upheaval last cycle and the masses are apparently happy with all four incumbents on the ballot.
Likewise, the Lake Forest Park mayor’s job will go unchallenged along with two-thirds of the open council seats.
Regardless of political and philosophical bent, these people have taken one of the most bold steps possible, to put themselves before the public and ask for votes.
The candidates have done their part, now it’s up to the voters to earn their own thank you.
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