Retired Qwest Communications Public Policy Director David Teitzel has announced that he will run for the Edmonds City Council position that Councilwoman Joan Bloom now holds.
Bloom has not yet said whether she would seek a second four-year term in the coming election.
Teitzel was an applicant when the Council appointed Michael Nelson to fill the position created when former Councilman Strom Peterson resigned to start the term in the state legislature that he won in November.
Teitzel said Monday that he believes that his background is more extensive than Bloom’s and that his background can be an asset to Council.
He pointed to his 35-year business background, noting experience in budgeting, marketing and public policy. He said he wants to bring expertise in these areas to the council as it works to establish policies to “accommodate strong population growth, protect views and deliver top-quality city services to Edmonds while ensuring the city’s budget health.”
Candidates file for ballot position in May. If three or more candidates file for this or any other position, the position will appear on the August primary ballot, with the top two vote getters advancing to the November general election. If only one or two candidates file, the position will appear only on the November ballot.
The position is one of five Edmonds Council positions on this year’s ballots. The others are four-year terms for the positions held by Diane Buckshnis, Thomas Mesaros and Lora Petso, and the last two years of the position that Nelson holds by appointment.
Nelson is the only incumbent to declare an intention to run.
Teitzel and Nelson have registered with the State Public Disclosure Commission as candidates for the Council, as has another applicant for the recent vacancy, Deputy County Prosecuting Attorney Adam Cornell. Teitzel is the only one to announce for a specific position.
Registration with the PDC allows candidates to raise and spend money for the primary and November general elections. None of the Edmonds candidates have yet reported any fundraising or spending.
Teitzel has lived in the Edmonds area for more than 25 years.
A Monday press release said that his record of volunteerism includes work with the Jacob’s Well housing facility for homeless mothers, the King County Guardian Ad Litem program for abused and neglected children, children’s ministry and the Sno-King youth sports organization. He is also past president of the Woodway Highlands Homeowners’ Association.
Teitzel said in the press release, “Edmonds is a great place, blessed with abundant natural beauty and amenities. However, 6,000 more people are expected to live here in the next ten years and our city needs to be equipped to properly manage that change. I have the time, energy and skill set to work collaboratively with the community, council and the mayor’s staff to establish plans and policies to accommodate growth in a well-reasoned manner.”
Additionally, he said. “We need to find new sources of revenue and tightly manage expenses in Edmonds to minimize the need for property tax increases. This should include attracting new business, enhancing tourism opportunities and working together to establish policies to allow sensible development in underdeveloped areas of Edmonds while protecting views, the environment and the character of the community.”
Teitzel added that Edmonds’ population mix is rapidly changing, with more than 20 percent non-Caucasian residents living in the community.
“With our changing demographics, I’m concerned that the voices of many of our population groups are not being heard by Council,” he said. “I am committed to reaching out to those groups to solicit their input to ensure Council decisions are being made in the best interest of all our citizens. In fact, my campaign theme is ‘Be Included.’”
Teitzel is a 1974 graduate of Washington State University and a current member of the WSU College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board, working with the college dean on matters of curriculum, student recruitment and funding.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
