BRIER — Three City Council incumbents face challengers in the Nov. 3 election. A fourth member, Dennis Nick, is running unopposed for a four-year term in Position 6.
Position 4
Councilwoman Kerin Steele is seeking a third four-year term against first-time candidate Tony Corrado in a race in which the city’s parks and police are focal points.
Steele, 73, said she wants to “keep Brier running in the right direction. We have a good group on the City Council.”
City finances are solid in the post-recession era, she said. And the city has received outside funding and grants to improve streets and parks, she said.
She touts her experience in the city attorney’s office in Seattle and civic roles, including a stint as chairwoman of the Emergency Services Coordinating Agency board of directors. In that post, she supported disbanding the multicity agency and having its member cities, including Brier, contract with Snohomish County for emergency management duties.
Corrado, 34, who moved to town in 2012, said he decided to run “so that I can do my part as a citizen to protect what makes Brier such a great city.”
He wants to expand and improve the city park system and preserve the police department, rather than contract with other cities or the county for law enforcement services.
The police department “is the heart and soul of our community” and outsourcing the duties “could have dramatic effects on our community and reputation.”
Steele said there was a rumor the city considered contracting with Mountlake Terrace for its police services. “We’re not,” she said.
Position 5
City Councilman Dale Kaemingk is pursuing a fourth term against David R. Wines. The winner will serve a four-year term.
Kaemingk, 59, is a managing partner of Engineers Northwest Inc., a structural engineering firm which he said does work in 45 states and six countries.
He’s campaigning on his record of developing balanced budgets that fund police, parks, road improvements and other amenities.
“Our city is exceptional and I will strive to keep it that way,” he said.
“We are on a strong financial footing and our streets and parks are in great condition. Public safety is crucial and I support local policing.”
Wines said his top issue is to ensure the city keeps its police department and does not contract with any outside agency for law enforcement services.
Also, he said, he wants to preserve the city’s rural charm.
“Although I welcome all our new neighbors in the new developments, I would like to see development stop, and retain what greenbelts and woods we have left,” he said.
At-Large
City Councilman John Joplin is seeking his third term against longtime resident Ken Yohe. The winner will serve a two-year term.
Joplin, 78, a former city planning commissioner, worked 40 years in the field of financial management of local governments and health care administration.
He said he decided to run again because “I really like the idea of public service.”
If re-elected, he said he wants to see more parks and trails developed and police services remain under the control of the city to ensure Brier remains one of the state’s safest cities.
Yohe, a retired chief engineer with Washington State Ferries, said he also opposes contracting out police services.
He said entered the race “because there always needs to be change, the council in place now has been there forever.
“I’m 68, and have been a Brier resident since 1988, that gives me all the qualifications I need to run in this election,” he said.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com
Position 4
Tony Corrado
Age: 34
Experience: Residential and commercial property manager with a portfolio of about 70 properties.
Email: Tcorrado16@hotmail.com
Kerin Steele
Age: 73
Experience: Two terms on the City Council; chairwoman of the board of directors of the
Emergency Services Coordinating Agency; retired from city attorney’s office in Seattle
Website: SteeleforBrier.com
Position 5
David R. Wines
Age: Not available
Experience: U.S. Postal Service, 27 years; Crisis clinic hotline volunteer; U.S. Army veteran
Email: drwines@hotmail.com
Dale Kaemingk
Age: 59
Experience: Three terms on City Council; managing partner of Engineers Northwest Inc., treasurer of Sound City Bible Church
Website: daleforbrier.com
At-large
Ken Yohe
Age: 68
Experience: Retired chief engineer for Washington State Ferries; former marine engineer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.
Email: Yohbaby1@aol.com
John M. Joplin
Age: 78
Experience: Two terms on the City Council; member of the Snohomish Board of Health; former city planning commissioner; U.S. Air Force veteran; former president of the board of trustees for Lou Gehrig’s disease research foundation.
Website: Johnlovesbrier.com
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