EDMONDS — Finance, population growth, public safety and the environment are major issues in three contested Edmonds City Council races.
At least two of the seats will be occupied by new faces.
Christine Eck and Roger Pence are running for the seat now occupied by Dave Teitzel in position 1.
Mackey Guenther or Michelle Dotsch will fill Position 4, held by board member Diane Buckshnis.
Council member Susan Paine is running for reelection to Position 6, with Kevin Fagerstrom hoping to unseat her.
Incumbents Vivian Olson and Jenna Nand are unopposed.
Post 1
Roger Pence
Pence, 78, a former King County transit planner, opposed the state’s decision. to replace local zoning lawsand believes the city and local landowners should take the lead in combating population growth.
He wants to bring Edmonds up to current ADA standards. He called himself an ally to the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. He has roots in Edmonds, while his opponent moved to Edmonds last year, he said.
“We need someone who knows the city of Edmonds,” he said. “His learning curve would be very long.”
Pence has been keeping abreast of city issues and has been attending city council meetings for a long time, he said.
Pence, a former Pentagon communications specialist, is supported by current council members Neil Tibbott, Will Chen, Jenna Nand and Dave Teitzel.
Christine Eck
Eck, 56, has lived in southern Snohomish County for nearly 30 years. She currently serves as Snohomish County Planning Commissioner.
Eck is supported by Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson and council member Susan Paine. Other supporters include state Sen. Marko Liias and Reps. Strom Peterson and Lillian Ortiz-Self.
If elected, Eck would support diverse housing options to ensure affordability.
“You know we have a problem when our teachers and firefighters can’t afford to live in the community,” she said.
She wants to expand green spaces and preserve the city’s tree canopy.
Eck would support funding projects to make the city safer for pedestrians and cyclists. She is in favor of narrowing roads, reducing speed limits and installing red light cameras in the city.
Eck would also work to increase resources for mental health and substance abuse services.
Eck said she moved “three blocks” from Lynnwood to Edmonds last year. She showcased her professional leadership skills and experience as a mother qualifying her to serve in Edmonds.
“I’m not motivated by my grievances,” she said. “I am motivated by the desire to get out into the field and use my skills and leadership to make things happen and help the community. »
Post 4
Mackey Gunther
Günther, 22, wants to have a say in the decisions that affect the future of his generation.
He served as a planning and development intern for the city in 2022 and is studying neuroscience and economics at Seattle Central College.
His backers include Paine and state Rep. Peterson.
“I’m going to have to deal with the decisions the city makes for the rest of my life,” Guenther said. “I want to raise a family here and I want them to grow up in a city that is as good for them as it is for me.”
He plans to do this by focusing on climate issues, diversity, housing affordability and public safety. Guenther wants to ensure every child in the city has access to nature, which is why he supports increasing green space in Edmonds.
Edmonds should offer competitive salaries to recruit more police officers, Guenther said. It would offer grants to first responders to help cover housing costs.
Edmonds’ housing crisis could be solved if the city supported “compact” development, he said. It would propose codes to ensure new developments meet high environmental standards and maintain the aesthetics of the existing neighborhood.
Michelle Dotsch
Dotsch, 56, did not respond to an interview request from the Daily Herald.
A first-time candidate, she owns a dental practice and is president of the Citizens Alliance for Edmonds.
City Council members Teitzel, Tibbott and Buckshnis supported Dotsch.
She wants to focus on environmental preservation, neighborhood safety and “responsible growth,” according to her candidate’s biography.
“I am committed to working collaboratively, continuing to seek out and listen to all voices around local issues, and working toward a more responsive and forthright government,” she wrote. “I’m interested in good policy, not politics.”
Post 6
Susan Paine
Paine, 61, was elected to the council in 2019.
His endorsements include several Democratic state legislators, Planned Parenthood and former Edmonds City Council members Laura Johnson and Luke Distelhorst.
Paine’s priorities are economic growth, sustainability and public safety.
She wants to “get people out of the car” by strengthening public transport. She also hopes to make the city more electric vehicle friendly. She wants to improve sidewalks, add bike lanes and lower speed limits.
Paine is passionate about preserving the environment and says, “Now is the time for us to take real action on the climate crisis and what we can do here in Edmonds to reduce greenhouse gases. »
Paine worked in the courts for 20 years and often helped survivors of domestic violence obtain protection orders.
“I’ve always worked closely with law enforcement,” she said.
During her professional experience as a regulatory advisor in Seattle, she ensured that policy was implemented smoothly, which she says gives her a leg up on her opponent.
“I think Edmonds is a great place to live,” she said. “It’s a place that will always attract more visitors and I want to make sure it’s a welcoming place for everyone.”
Kevin Fagerstrom
Fagerstrom, 70, is Everett’s former code enforcement director. He worked with the King County Sheriff’s Office for 33 years.
He is supported by three former Edmonds mayors: Dave Earling, Gary Haakenson and Barbara Fahey. He is also supported by current City Council members Buckshnis, Teitzel and Tibbott.
“We have to be realistic,” Fagerstrom said, saying Edmonds faces enormous problems such as population growth, homelessness and public safety. These are regional concerns, Fagerstrom said, and the city should work with neighboring communities to address them.
“Society has turned its back on law enforcement,” he said. He wants to do everything in his power to restore that connection and recruit more police officers to protect the community.
He believes his opponent does not have the best interests of the community at heart.
“I am not satisfied with the direction the city government has taken in recent years,” he said.
If elected, he said he would support policies to ensure Edmonds is a good town for his grandchildren and other children.
Polls are due to take place on Tuesday.
Ashley Nash: 425 339-3037; ashley.nash@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @ash_nash00.
