Voters pass EMS levy, narrow water and fire district picks

  • John Santana<br>Enterprise writer
  • Monday, March 3, 2008 6:50am

Voters throughout South Snohomish County narrowed the field in two special service district races and easily passed an Emergency Medical Services levy during Tuesday’s primary election.

In the four-way primary for Alderwood Water District Commissioner, position 3, former commissioner Larey McLaren of Mays Pond and political newcomer Carol Gilbert looked to be headed to the November’s general election, with McLaren getting 36.05 percent of early returns and Gilbert receiving 28.28 percent of the vote.

McLaren, however, wasn’t out celebrating his lead. “My wife and I are engrossed in a PBS program about glacial Lake Missoula,” he said. “It’s a Nova program.”

McLaren said his lead wasn’t a surprise considering his active campaign efforts and experience and background.

“I’m very grateful,” he said. “But I don’t want to sound like this (lead) is what I expected. Anything can happen in elections, but I am optimistic.”

Gilbert, meanwhile, was out to dinner when she got the news that she was inching closer to advancing to the general election.

“I’m pleased,” she said. “If I make it through the primary I’ll take my campaigning to another level.”

Steve Aaby, who ran an active campaign, was last in the early returns with 14.11 percent of the vote.

“I’m surprised, but the night’s not over yet,” Aaby said. “We’ve got a long ways to go. There’s a big spread between me and Carol, but I’m still optimistic. I can’t give up yet.”

In a three-way primary for Snohomish County Fire District 1 Commissioner, position 3, David Chan of Lake Serene and Christopher Glenn of Lynnwood were neck-and-neck for the lead, with both candidates appearing to advance to the general election. Chan did not return a phone call seeking comment.

“I’m still hopeful,” Glenn said in a phone interview after returning home from a Board of Commissioners meeting. “I’m kind of excited about it.”

John Billen of Everett, meanwhile, was a distant third with 12.63 percent of the vote. Billen, however, did not have a statement appear in the county voter’s guide.

Both the Fire District 1 and the Alderwood Water District commissioner races were open seats, as the incumbents in those positions declined to run for re-election.

The EMS levy, for Snohomish County Fire District 1, was easily passing as of early returns, with 66.54 percent of the vote.

“We usually get about 60 percent of the vote from these kind of ballot measures,” said Fire District 1 spokesperson Leslie Hynes.

The ballot question was actually a request from the district to raise taxes to fund emergency medical services. It will allow the district to restore the property tax rate to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The rate fell to 46.6 cents per $1,000 because of adjustments.

“(Passing this) will allow us to continue to fund the service at current levels,” Hynes said. “It’s quite reassuring.”

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