Mill Creek area residents will get to vote on three races for the September primary election, although none of the contests involve the Mill Creek City Council or Snohomish County Council.
Two of the three races to be contested in the Sept. 20 primary are water district races, and one is a race for a seat on the board of commissioners for Snohomish County Fire District 1.
Four people filed to run for position 3 on the Fire District 1 board, a seat that is being vacated by Joan Miller of Edmonds. The four people who are running are: John Billen of Everett; Christopher Glenn and David Chan, both of Lynnwood; and Lisa Hopp of Heatherwood West, a neighborhood proposed for annexation into Mill Creek. Fire District 1 serves areas to the west, north and east of Mill Creek.
Three challengers filed to take on Alderwood Water District Commissioner John Malone of Mays Pond. His three challengers are Steve Aaby of Bothell; Carol Gilbert of Mountlake Terrace; and Laren “Larey” McLaren of Mays Pond. Alderwood Water District serves the southern half of the city of Mill Creek.
In addition, Silver Lake Water District Commissioner Roger Summy faces two challengers in the primary: Alayna Martin of Everett and Anne Backstrom of Snohomish. Silver Lake Water District serves the northern part of Mill Creek.
Two Mill Creek City Council races, meanwhile, are contested and will appear on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. In a filing that came two hours before the end of the filing period on Friday, July 29, Rosemary Bennetts filed to run against incumbent Council member John Hudgins.
Bennetts, vice president of operations of The Donaldson Clinic in Mill Creek, has been active in the Mill Creek Business Association for several years and served as president for two years. She applied for and interviewed for the interim Council opening earlier this year that came open following the passing of John “Jack” Start, a position that went to Mike Todd.
Hudgins was instrumental in the city’s recent purchase of the Huntron Building, a building he wants to see become part of a Mill Creek “civic center.” He also said he wants to broaden the city’s tax base, add more youth sports fields and address annexation issues.
The other opposed Council race finds Mayor Terry Ryan facing Brady Austin, a 2003 Jackson High School graduate and son of former Mayor and Council member Tim Austin.
One City Council race failed to materialize. Todd is unopposed in his bid to serve out the remaining two years of Start’s term. Initially, it appeared Todd would face a challenge from Steven Hypse, a former City Council member who works for the state Liquor Control Board. Hypse filed campaign finance forms with the state Public Disclosure Commission for Todd’s seat, but did not file with the county auditor’s office for the position.
Hypse said he opted not to run because he was recently approached by a pair of arts charities. He decided to work for them rather than run for Council.
Todd is one of three City Council members who are unopposed and will retain their seats. Mayor pro-tem Donna Michelson and Mary Kay Voss both are unopposed.
For Snohomish County Council, District 4, Democratic incumbent Dave Gossett of Mountlake Terrace faces a challenge from Republican Eva Davies of Bothell.
Several Mill Creek-area residents filed for the County Charter Review Commission, District 4. Brandon Carnell and William Diepenbrock, both of Mill Creek, filed for the position, as did Mill Creek City Council member Mark Bond. Also filing for the position are Silver Firs resident and Fire District 1 commissioner Jim Kenny, Barbara Cothern Hawksford of Bothell and McLaren, who is also seeking a spot on the Alderwood Water District board.
The charter commission race will appear on the November ballot, with voters choosing three candidates for the commission.
Several other races affecting the Mill Creek area are unopposed as well. Here is a list:
Gunther Hausmann and Don Andrews are both unopposed in their bids to retain their seats on the Fire District 7 Board of Commissioners.
Everett School Board vice president Kristin “Kristie” Dutton faces no opposition (see separate story, this page). Also unopposed is Larry Jones of Bothell, who is seeking re-election to position 4 on the Alderwood Water District board.
In addition, Bob Meador of Mill Creek is unopposed in his bid to retain his spot as Hospital District 2 Commissioner, at large position 5.
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