EDMONDS — As a result of Mayor Gary Haakenson’s June 1 resignation announcement, Councilman Michael Plunkett is stepping up his efforts to put a measure forward to shift the form of city government in Edmonds.
Plunkett previously presented to council a proposal to change from a mayor-council form of governance to a council-manager form. He later pulled the item out of the spotlight.
“I was willing to put off council consideration of a council-manager form of government because of the need for stability for the rest of the year,” Plunkett wrote in an e-mail to his colleagues, as well as a letter that appears in today’s Enterprise. “That premise has been blown out of the water by the mayor’s action.”
He stated that now is the perfect time to put the idea before the voters. Council President Steve Bernheim has put the item on the June 15 council agenda for a public hearing.
“It ends up being a peoples’ vote,” said Bernheim. “We are at a time when everyone can listen to options.”
Once council decides what to do in principal then work can begin, Bernheim said.
That work includes writing the proposal and convening a panel to craft the “for” and “against” sections in the voter’s pamphlet. For the measure to be on the Nov. 2 general election ballot, all the pieces have to be in place by the Aug. 10 deadline.
“If somebody is pushing this, they have their work cut out for them,” said Bernheim.
Haakenson, a three-term Edmonds mayor, has accepted County Executive Aaron Reardon’s May 28 offer to fill the Deputy County Executive position with Snohomish County, a spot vacated by Mark Soine, who held the position for five years.
Haakenson’s last day in City Hall will be July 2. He will start with the county July 6 at an annual salary of $147,000, a 30 percent increase from his current salary, which has been frozen by council for two years amid the city’s budget constraints.
“I’ve always been asked what I’m going to do when I’m done being mayor, and my answer has always been, something will come along,” Haakenson told the council. “And this time, it came along maybe not at the best time, but opportunities come when they come.”
Through June, Haakenson will be focusing on the Edmonds budget with the council, “to get them to a place where they can get working on it and the levy,” he told The Enterprise.
Haakenson, 62, has served as Edmonds mayor for 11 years. The 25-year resident became mayor in January 2000 and was re-elected in 2004 and 2008. Prior to that, he served as a councilman from 1996 through 1999.
“My goal when I became mayor was to have an open-door policy to everyone, employees and citizens alike,” Haakenson told The Enterprise. “I wanted to communicate with citizens with articles, town meetings, neighborhood meetings and I wanted citizens to feel comfortable stopping to talk to me anytime. I wanted the mayor to be accessible to everyone. I believe I have accomplished those goals.”
Under Reardon, Haakenson will help oversee Executive Office departments and will work directly with the Snohomish County Council and other individually elected officials.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
