MUKILTEO—Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine announced his bid for re-election Wednesday, April 30, with a campaign kickoff at Mukilteo’s Rosehill Community Center to approximately 80 attendees.

Marine has worked with others to build the Rosehill Community Center, acquire 98 acres of property to preserve Japanese Gulch, and created the Citizen’s Police Academy among other accomplishments. As a 30-year Mukilteo resident Marine has served on the Mukilteo City Council, as a Washington State Representative, and as a three-time mayor.
Marine is active in his community as a member of the Mukilteo/South Everett Rotary Club, the Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce, Mari’s Place for the Arts, and Community Transit.
His Mayoral tenure has revolved around his emphasis for public safety, keeping Mukilteo a small town by rejecting high-density development. His platform also includes transportation improvements and government transparency.

“Serving as Mayor of Mukilteo is a true honor,” said Mayor Joe Marine. “I’m excited to build upon the successes we’ve had as a city and to preserve Mukilteo as a great place to live, work, and play.”
Wednesday’s event was emceed by Matt Martin with special guest speakers Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring, Board Chair of the Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce Jim Tinsley, Kamiak Student Daniel Kim, Mukilteo City Council President Tom Jordal, and Mukilteo Vice President Jason Moon.

“Mukilteo is in awesome hands,” said Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring. “Joe represents Mukilteo so well. He knows how to think regionally but he’s always fighting for Mukilteo whether its on the Community Transit Board or the Association, Washington Cities Board, or wherever he is. Joe knows his facts. He knows what makes Mukilteo strong, he knows the issues that are important with Mukilteo voters, and he’s always bringing that up before making decisions.”
Nehring, who shared Marine has his full-fledged endorsement, added that the region “needs Joe” particularly in the realm of public safety.

Mukilteo City Council President Tom Jordal shared a story that showcased how Marine is “not afraid to get into the weeds”….literally. When the two of them were down at the Mukilteo Lighthouse recently Jordal said Marine was getting his hands dirty with some weeding efforts, exemplifying just how much he cares about the look and feel of the city around them.
Another Mukilteo City Council member, Vice President Jason Moon, also spoke at Marine’s kickoff event sharing the first interaction he had with Marine which left an everlasting impression. Long before Moon was a Council member, or before he had formerly met Marine, he ran into an incident where he needed to contact the police. He said the response was immediate, but he also got a personal call from Marine asking if he was okay.

“Since then, it’s been that type of relationship. I really love Marine’s care that he has, not only for City, but he genuinely cares about people in the city,” said Moon. “He is a genuine, genuine, leader.”
Kamiak student Daniel Kim, who serves on the Mukilteo Youth Advisory Council, spoke for a different generation next sharing a story about when he first met Marine at City Hall. Kim expressed uncertainty on what he wanted to do with his life after high school and Marine told him that wherever he goes is a roadmap to wherever he gets to is a pinnacle position of where he is.

It was then that Kim realized that his mayor cared about him. His whole impression of City Government was changed at that moment, he added.
Kim attributed something that his A.P. Government teacher told him once, that ‘a good Mayor is one who can reach out to each quarter of a city.’ With all of the diversity in Mukilteo, a good Mayor is one who reaches out to all its different communities and integrate all of their needs together, which Marine does, Kim said.
“My needs as a youth and my voice as a youth feels respected by Joe Marine,” said Marine. “I’m so grateful that for my past five years here I was able to get involved with the City of Mukilteo.”
In closing Kim made Marine promise him that he will ensure his younger sister, who is currently in fifth grade, will grow up in the best possible city throughout her next ten years, at least, growing up in Mukilteo.

Jim Tinsley with the Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce spoke on behalf of Mukilteo’s business community.
“We’re back to a community where businesses can thrive in,” said Tinsley. “And that’s not easy work.”
Tinsley added that Marine champions for local businesses adding that he is the “number one salesperson for the City of Mukilteo.”
“He loves this City, and he talks about it constantly,” said Tinsley.
Marine also has the support of former Mayor Don Doran and PUD Commissioner Dr. Julieta Altamirano-Crosby.
To learn more about Mayor Marine’s re-election campaign, visit his website at www.MarineForMukilteo.com.

Author: Kienan Briscoe