With five candidates seeking the office of Snohomish County executive, there is no shortage of choice for voters in terms of the candidates’ ideas, political stances, background and experience.
Current County Executive John Lovick, a Democrat from Mill Creek, has held the office for two years, appointed to the position by the county council following the departure of Aaron Reardon, who resigned in June 2013 after a series of scandals. Lovick, who won two terms as county sheriff prior to his appointment as executive, won election in 2014 to complete the final year of the unexpired term, defeating Republican Carolyn Eslick, 55 percent to 44 percent.
Four challengers filed to run against Lovick.
Current Snohomish County Council Chairman Dave Somers, a fellow Democrat from Monroe, has served on the council for 14 years.
James Robert Deal, who identified no party preference but ran as a Democrat in the primary against Lovick last year, is a Lynnwood attorney.
Norm Nunnally, of Marysville, is a Republican Party activist with a background in the military, medicine and business.
Robert Sutherland, a retired biochemist from Granite Falls, is a Republican who earned 15 percent of the vote and third place among a field of seven running last year for the 1st District Congressional seat won by Rep. Suzan DelBene. Sutherland was unable to attend a joint interview with the editorial board.
Nunnally and Deal are sincere in their desire to serve the county and its residents and are well informed on the challenges facing the county. Nunnally faults both Lovick and Somers for “a vacuum of leadership” that has led to a list of costly out-of-court settlements for the county and an even costlier courthouse project. Deal, who identifies a host of concerns including commercial service at Paine Field and fluoridation of water, identifies himself as a “liberal who pinches pennies.”
But more than someone who can identify the problems and offer good ideas, the county — particularly after years of tumult and distraction from the Reardon administration — needs an experienced manager in the executive’s office. The choice falls between Lovick and Somers.
Lovick has the charisma, optimism and oratory skill that can serve an official well and can motivate employees and inspire confidence in constituents, but his desire to do right has not always been balanced by attention to procedure and a willingness to consider the advice of those on the council.
This has led to conflict with some in the county council over raises for some administration employees and in making budget decisions, for example. The conflict has only been exacerbated by Lovick’s choice for deputy executive, Mark Ericks, who was the focus of not one but two investigations. Both cleared him of wrongdoing, but comments that Ericks made that he would kill one county council member “if it wasn’t for jail time” can be dismissed as dark humor but still raise eyebrows and don’t reflect well on the administration. Disagreement among political opponents is expected, even valued. But we had hoped we had left such discord and animosity well behind us with the Reardon administration.
With its budget reserve below its recommended level and facing the potential for cuts that could force layoffs, the county requires an executive with Somers’ years of budgeting skill. As well, the office would benefit from the knowledge Somers has in the economy, the environment, growth issues and transportation.
Somers, by comparison, is a technocrat. We use the term without criticism. Even as it continues to shake off the recession, the county needs that experience, caution and attention to detail.
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