MARYSVILLE — Three-term incumbent City Councilman Jeff Seibert and his challenger, library board member B.J. Guillot, each have made law enforcement the top priority should either win in the Nov. 5 election. Ballots are set to be mailed Oct. 17.
Seibert is running for re-election in hopes that he can continue to work toward making Marysville attractive to employers, he said.
Guillot, a political newcomer, said he isn’t so much running against Seibert as he is wanting to be involved in city government.
“I’ve been interested in government since college,” Guillot said. “I want to do my civic duty, help the people of Marysville and learn more about how the process works.”
Strong police enforcement is key to a good community, Guillot said.
“Marysville has tough ordinances in place to punish illegal drug users and panhandlers, but the problems continue to persist,” Guillot said. “As I have campaigned around the city, people list police enforcement as the biggest need.”
The first priority of government is public safety, Seibert said.
“It was tough during the recession, but we are adding more police officers,” Seibert said. “Our department is dealing with drug problems an area at a time.”
Traffic is another issue the candidates agree must be faced.
Seibert wants the 156th Street overpass to become an I-5 interchange in order to encourage industrial development and the establishment of jobs in north Marysville and south Arlington. He also wants an interchange at Highway 529 and I-5, and two lanes added to Fourth Street in downtown Marysville.
“The public works committee is recommending to the council that we go to the voters with a small sales tax increase to fund solutions to our traffic problems,” Seibert said. “I don’t like to raise taxes, but if the voters say OK, then it would help. And it would be better than license tab fees of $20. It seems more fair to have non-residents who use our roads help pay for them.”
Guillot said he would support extra freeway interchanges because of the possibility of long coal trains headed through Marysville.
“I am against the coal trains, not because of any environmental argument or because I don’t like trains, but because Marysville is in such a bad spot,” Guillot said. “The trains constantly cause problems for commuters. I wonder if we can’t try to engage the coal train folks to chip in to help us with our infrastructure.”
Guillot said he, too, wants to see manufacturing jobs established in north Marysville.
“Win or lose, I plan to lobby our state legislators about tax breaks for companies willing to move here,” Guillot said.
Seibert said he’s wanted Marysville to be more than a bedroom community for many years.
“We have established some of the retail and commercial development that is sustaining and supporting our city. We have come through the recession with savings in the bank,” Seibert said. “And we are doing it with a master plan that brings a mix of uses, including residential, to each new commercial development.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
Marysville City Council, Position No. 3
The job
At stake is a four-year term on the Marysville City Council. The job pays $700 a month, with an additional $50 paid per extra meeting, with up to 10 extra meetings allowed each month.
The candidates
Jeff Seibert
Age: 52
Experience: Running for fourth term on the City Council. Serves on public works, safety and finance committees. Electrician. Member IBEW 191 for 25 years.
Website: None
B.J. Guillot
Age: 39
Experience: Works for a company that makes computer software for emergency services agencies. Member of the Marysville Library Board.
Website: www.vote4BJ.com
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