MUKILTEO, Wash., January 2, 2022 – Ten residents submitted applications vying for the Mukilteo City Council Position 7 seat that was vacated by City Councilmember Joe Marine, who successfully won his bid for mayor succeeding Jennifer Gregerson.
According to the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC), councilmembers “constitute a legislative body that is given authority by the state constitution and state law to make local laws.”
Unlike county offices, all elected city offices are nonpartisan as city council members are to make policy decisions and enact laws on behalf of the residents they are sworn to serve, not a political party.
Per RCW 42.12.070, the City Council has the authority to appoint a qualified person to fill the vacant position. When appointed, the successful candidate will immediately assume the office of Councilmember Position 7 for a term which ends after the certification of the November 7, 2023, election.
Per RCW 35A.12.030, to be eligible to fill the vacancy, an applicant must be over the age of 18 and a registered voter of the City of Mukilteo at the time the application is submitted to the City Clerk. Also, one must be a resident of Mukilteo for at least one year preceding the appointment.
Applicant interviews with the existing City Council members are expected to be held in January in an open public meeting. Interviews will be followed by Council discussion and a likely vote that evening for appointment.
The proposed appointment process will be agreed upon at tomorrow’s Business Meeting. Below is the timeline according to the proposed schedule:
- January 3: Approve the proposed process
- January 10: Finalize seven questions for applicants
- January 18: 2-minute presentation by applicants and final selection of applicants to interview
- January 24: Final round of interviews and appointment vote
- February 7: Oath of Office
Below are the 10 applicants who are vying to be Mukilteo’s next City Council member, these are (in no particular order):
Kevin Stoltz
- Supports outdoor dining
- Supports the requirement of proof of vaccination to enter city facilities
- Support proof of vaccination for restaurants based on the King County model
- Wants to expand the “citizen patrol” volunteer program
- Supports a Voluntary Nighttime Curfew for Paine Field Airport
Residency: 38 years
Career / Background: Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. Current president of CompuPlus. Past experience: former president of Personal Locator Beacons Rentals, data analyst for race cars, author of several books, and former Boeing employee.
Political Experience: 8 years, former City Council member. Last ran in 2021 without success.
Community Service: Mukilteo Ferry Advisory Committee, Mukilteo Waterfront Master Plan Advisory Subcommittee, Waterfront Wednesdays
Carolyn Carlson
- Advocate for Senior Community Center
- Supports subsidizing Rosehill Community Center
- Encourages volunteer programs
- Supports First Responders
Residency: 21.75 years
Career / Background: Currently retired with 37 years in the United States Postal Service of which 26 of those years was in management supervising over 60 employees.
Political Experience: Ran for office several times without success. Last ran in 2021.
Community Service: Served on the Rosehill board, the Parks and Arts Commission, and currently on the Historical Commission and the Board of the Lighthouse Festival. Former President of the Mukilteo Community Garden, current President of the Mukilteo Seniors Association and Mukilteo Kiwanis. Member of the Ferry Advisory Committee and was awarded Citizen of the Year for 2020.
Donald Saul
- Goal setting for the City’s Comprehensive Plan
- Support Senior Center
- Supports Park-n-Ride lot
- Supports picturesque places to rest and relax
- Supports First Responders
- Supports increasing IT infrastructure
- Supports local businesses
- Supports annexing east of Speedway
Residency: 12.5 years
Career / Background: Founder and Senior Pastor, Jericho Bridge Church where he oversees staff development; and carries out pastoral duties, preaching and teaching, vision and goal setting, financial budgeting and reporting, and developing the Bylaws. Former Information technology manager.
Political Experience: Made it to the final round of the last Mukilteo City Council appointment process in 2020.
Community Service: Volunteer efforts include: Mukilteo Community Orchestra, Mukilteo Foodbank, Mukilteo Walking Tour, Washington State Emergency Worker, Carpe Discus Ultimate Frisbee, The Everett Clinic, Hope Soldiers Suicide Awareness, Mukilteo Historical Society, Stolen Bike Snohomish County, and Non-profit website support for 10 organizations.
Joleen Sims
- Started a “GratiTuesday” blurb to spotlight local businesses
Residency: 1.5 years
Career / Background: Delta Dental of Washington Mid-Market Client Relations Associate. Currently possesses a mixologist and food handler licenses, WA state Insurance Producer, ordain minister and certified life coach.
Political Experience: None.
Community Service: Regularly cleans up the beaches. In the past, volunteered in King County to remove graffiti. Volunteered as a youth football coach in Mountlake Terrace.
Sharon Swann
- Support Mukilteo Chamber and local businesses
- Advocate for Mukilteo commerce
- Supports Public Safety
- Supports wide range of housing options for all incomes
- Supports data-driven decision making
Residency: 28 years
Career / Background: Engineering Manager at World Wide Technology.
Political Experience: None.
Community Service: Acres of Diamonds – Woman’s shelter, Seattle Gospel Mission, Toys for Tots, representative for the Engagement Advocate Program for the West Coast regions.
Ashvin Sanghvi
- Advocate for land use and managing growth pressures without impacting quality of life
- Supports re-energizing Rosehill as a community center
- Supports a multi-cultural enrichment
- Supports First Responders
- Supports IT infrastructure improvements
- Supports youth programs
Residency: 1.25 years
Career / Background: 40 years of software development and management experience with companies such as Microsoft, Amdahl, and Auspex. Inventor of over 60 patents and started more than 5 products at Microsoft.
Political Experience: None.
Community Service: Coaching and Mentoring new engineers in the US, India, China, and Germany. Volunteers for a Girls Volleyball team and was organizer for Annual 4th of July Friends of Sammamish group.
Theodore (Ted) Wheeler
- Supports annexation of county land
- Believes housing and land development is a critical concern
Residency: 21 years
Career / Background: Semi-retired with over 30 years in Construction management. Owner of HCI Steel Buildings LLC.
Political Experience: 4 years, Mukilteo City Council 2015-2019.
Community Service: Parks and Arts board 2012-2015, Mukilteo Light House Festival 2011-2019
Jason Moon
- Supports data-driven decision making
- Supports a multi-cultural enrichment
- Supports First Responders
- Supports a city-library-school district partnership
Residency: 5 years
Career / Background: Customer Success Account Manager at Microsoft.
Political Experience: None.
Community Service: Chairperson for the Diversity Equity and Diversity Commission – February 2021 – Present, Director of Marketing for Asian Affinity Group (15,000 members) at Amazon – December 2019 – November 2021, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Department Citizen’s Academy Graduate – November 2021, Seattle Community Church Active Elder (PCUSA)- 1/2020 – Present, and YMCA Board Member (In the process)
Peter Zieve
- Opponent to Mukilteo Housing Action Plan which was voted down by 81.85% of voters in 2021
- Advocate for youth sports and programs
- Advocate for aligning council policies to reflect that of Mukilteo voters
Residency: 14 years
Career / Background: CEO of Electroimpact
Political Experience: Ran for office several times without success. Last ran in 2021.
Community Service: Founder of Preserve Mukilteo, contributor to the Mukilteo Boys and Girls Club, and after school programs for kids – e.g. SolidWorks and 3D printing.
Alex Crocco
- Top issue is the development of the comprehensive plan
- Advocate for infrastructure improvements to current growth
- Advocate for an integrated waterfront plan with the people of Mukilteo, the First Nations, and the Port of Everett.
Residency: 12 years
Career / Background: Currently a Senior Manufacturing Manager & Business Operations Manager at Boeing. Currently holds process improvement certifications, an MBA in Production, Operations Management and Logistics and a BA in Economics.
Political Experience: Ran for office without success in 2021.
Community Service: Bishop’s Committee for St Hilda St Patrick – 4 years, Stewardship Chairman for St Hilda St Patrick – 5 years, and regular donor to the Mukilteo Food Bank.
Author: Mario Lotmore
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