Filing begins for Council seats

  • Brooke Fisher<br>Enterprise editor
  • Monday, March 3, 2008 6:47am

Four residents have filed with the State Public Disclosure Commission to run in the Shoreline City Council 2005 election — although only one candidate has yet declared a position.

The incumbent.

Candidates are required to file with the State Public Disclosure Commission within two weeks of becoming a candidate. As of March 30, filings were recorded from incumbent Paul Grace and residents Keith McGlashan, Cindy Ryu and George Mauer.

Open seats include positions 1, 3, 5, and 7 and are currently held by John Chang, Paul Grace, deputy mayor Scott Jepsen and mayor Ron Hansen. The positions are elected at large, for four-year terms.

Newcomer McGlashan, 51, has managed and owned the James Alan Salon for 25 years. He decided to run for office because he would like city projects to move ahead.

“I would like to see the city continue to move forward,” McGlashan said. “It seems like some people would like to see the city stop where it is.”

McGlashan, who is co-president of the Shoreline Public Schools Foundation and president of the Shoreline Community College Cosmetology Advisory Board, has not yet determined a position.

“I am basically waiting to see who else out of the four (Council members) is running,” McGlashan said. “The only one I know of is Paul.”

McGlashan’s priorities include economic development, assessing the city’s permit system which he feels is too stringent, and social services. McGlashan said in order to afford amenities for the city, such as sidewalks, the city’s tax base needs to be increased by attracting new business.

This is Ryu’s second time running for office. Ryu, 47, lost against Council member Rich Gustafson two years ago. She also has not decided for which position to run.

“When I ran two years ago, I ran against Rich Gustafson and did not succeed,” Ryu said. “So this time I haven’t decided.”

Ryu, who is president of the Chamber of Commerce, said she has stayed current with city issues such as the city hall project, capital spending, the North City Project, Aurora Avenue Project and Interurban Trail Project. She is concerned about taxes, lack of public involvement, fiscal responsibility, schools and safe crosswalks.

Newcomer Mauer, 66, said he was urged to file after citizens encouraged him to run for office. He is concerned with prudent fiscal management, business needs and capital city projects. He said his goal is to determine what issues citizens are concerned with.

“I am starting a doorbelling campaign next week,” Mauer said. “I am confident I will be informed more specifically by voters as to what they want.”

Mauer, a former human resource executive, has not determined for which position to run.

Incumbent Paul Grace, 59, was initially appointed to the Council 15 months ago, in January 2004, to fill the vacancy when former Council member Linda Montgomery moved out of town. He previously served on the Shoreline School Board for six years.

In his short time serving on the Council, Grace said he has advocated to keep the Aurora Corridor Project moving forward, which he feels will serve as a future catalyst for economic development.

“If elected, the next phases of it will come before the Council,” Grace said. “It is crucial to have council members who will keep the project moving forward to completion.”

Grace is also concerned with issues such as economic development and supports the North City Project, as well as increasing human services funding. One area that has improved since his appointment is public participation, he said.

“When I first started, I sponsored three public forums when I heard there was concern that citizens weren’t getting the level of pubic participation they felt they should,” Grace said. “Based on input, we made some changes on the way the Council operates.”

Grace said he has been a constant advocate for respectful discourse on issues where there has been strong disagreement among Council members.

“That is a value our community holds high,” Grace said. “Of respecting each other even when we differ on issues.”

The primary election is set for Sept. 20 and the general election for Nov. 8. According to Lori Anderson, PDC staff, election dates may change due to bills in the Legislature.

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