Lynnwood City Council incumbent Loren Simmonds faces challengers Maria Ambalada and Shirley Sutton in the Aug. 4 primary election. It is one of two Lynnwood Council positions on the primary ballot. The top two vote getters for each position advance to the Nov. 3 general election. Two other Lynnwood Council positions have only two candidates each and will appear only on the November ballot.
Ambalada, Simmonds and Sutton recently sent statements about what they think are the most important issue or issues in this year’s Lynnwood election. Here they are, in the order their names will appear on the primary ballot and in the voters’ pamphlet:
Lynnwood Council Position #4:
Maria Ambalada: More economic growth is needed. Also restraint on spending without money coming in. Need to tighten our city’s belt where we can and when we can.
Push Public/Farmers Market to provide extra income for those one-paycheck households, residents of Lynnwood. Create jobs for those saving for college. Give a little to the public who voted you into office.
Provide free transportation inside the city. Forget economic growth by counting the eggs before getting hatched.
Encourage a participatory form of government. Nothing wrong to restore faith on the U.S. Constitution safeguard separation of power. It is always good to form partnerships and collaborative relationships with those who can really uplift the city. Example, the ideal partner will be the Master Builder Association of Snohomish County. They are in a position to really help Lynnwood in many ways. Develop a transparent relationship with MBA. No longer they will be special interest group.
Shirley Sutton: Public Safety: The “Community Livability Report” noted, “nearly 9 in 10 respondents indicated that public safety would be important over the next five years.” I would like to help our community maintain the best firefighting, prevention and emergency medical services. We need to ensure that Lynnwood can provide fire and police services to handle business and population growth by adequately funding these departments. Additionally, planned developments will bring seniors and families to Lynnwood. Therefore, as a council member, I pledge to oppose cuts in law enforcement and first responders’ services to ensure our residents get the immediate, essential services they deserve.
City Budget: Our residents deserve transparency, accountability and efficiency in creating and managing a balanced budget. If elected, I pledge to work to provide fiscal leadership that prioritizes public safety and creates an environment where open government and an awareness of residents’ needs are valued and respected.
Loren Simmonds: Most Important Issue in 2015 Lynnwood Election: Lynnwood’s Infrastructure
The City of Lynnwood is facing multiple challenges. However, none is greater or more pressing than our infrastructure needs — especially our streets, arterials and sidewalks.
Lynnwood has a nighttime population of a little under 37,000 residents. Daytime traffic volume, however, approaches that of a city with the population of 80,000-100,000 people – all within an area of a little over seven square miles.
Increasing levels of traffic congestion, potholes, deferred street overlays, replacement of old traffic signals plus repair of pedestrian sidewalks, boils down to one thing. Our infrastructure has and continues to take a beating.
Unfortunately, delayed maintenance, rising costs and diminishing resources compound the problem. Every year we get farther and farther behind.
I will work with the Mayor and Council to craft an ongoing revenue plan to fund this critical service need.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
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