MUKILTEO — Seven residents have applied to fill the Mukilteo City Council vacancy created by the April resignation of Councilmember Mike Dixon, who stepped down citing increased professional demands and family commitments.
The council is scheduled to review applications and begin candidate interviews at its meeting Monday night. Officials plan to select a short list May 11 and make a final appointment at the May 18 meeting to complete the unexpired term in Position 5.
Applicant: Ilona Van Duser, 25.5-year Mukilteo resident
Van Duser retired in 2023 after serving as senior IT/cybersecurity manager at Premera Blue Cross from 1997 to 2023. In senior management roles she oversaw multi-million-dollar budgets, made high-stakes decisions on the security of member data and business systems, and negotiated contracts with national vendors. No education details were provided in her application.
Her community activities include serving as chair/vice chair of the Mukilteo DEI Commission (2024-present), active member of Mukilteo Kiwanis (2024-present) and executive board member of the Mukilteo Seniors Association (2026-present). She volunteered extensively in the Mukilteo school district from 2000 to 2012 and campaigned for City Council Position 1 in 2025.
Van Duser has consistently attended City Council meetings since 2023. She identified waterfront development, fiscal responsibility and the future of the fire department as key issues facing the council. Her approach would involve asking questions, thorough research, robust discussions with colleagues and arriving at defensible, consensus-driven decisions. She said she is ready to “hit the ground running.”
She is seeking the appointment to continue her service to Mukilteo. She believes she is qualified because she is keeping up to date on current issues, has a strong understanding of the City’s budget and is committed to listening to all sides before forming decisions.
Applicant: Riaz Khan, 18-year Mukilteo resident
Khan has been employed by the Boeing Company since 1999. He previously served as a Mukilteo City Council member from 2019 to 2023 and listed that experience as relevant to the position. No education details were provided in his application.
In community activities, Khan has served on the boards of directors for the YMCA, the Kiwanis Club of Mukilteo and the Asian Community Center. During his council term, he participated on the Airport Advisory and Youth Advisory committees, among others. He has also engaged in local discussions on housing, public safety and governance and has volunteered informally to support residents.
Khan reported attending or watching approximately 11 Mukilteo City Council meetings, both in person and online, in the past 12 months. He identified responsible growth and development, public safety, infrastructure and transportation challenges, and fiscal responsibility as top issues facing the council.
In his application, Khan said he is seeking the appointment because he wants to contribute his professional experience, perspective and commitment to public service in a meaningful way. He emphasized ensuring the council reflects the voices and needs of Mukilteo’s diverse and growing community, while prioritizing transparency, accountability and responsiveness in local government. He expressed support for policies that aid working families, encourage local businesses and strengthen community trust.
Applicant: Ashvin Sanghvi, 5.5-year Mukilteo resident
Sanghvi retired after 23 years at Microsoft as a PM Architect, where he led teams delivering new products and entire categories from scratch in enterprise software and cloud services. He previously held senior engineering leadership roles including vice president of engineering at Proactive Networks, Auspex and Interface, served as business area manager at Amdahl and co-founded Infoton Systems and Services. He is an inventor of more than 50 patents and studied at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.
His community activities include serving as vice chair of the Mukilteo Planning Commission since January 2026 and as a commissioner since 2023. He has participated in annual Earth Day clean-ups, volunteered with Friends of Sammamish (2017-2020) and contributed to Microsoft’s Give Program and Mentorship Program.
Sanghvi ran for Mukilteo City Council in 2022. He has regularly attended council meetings and spoken on major issues since then. As a planning commissioner he contributed to the 2024 Comprehensive Plan, helped clear a backlog of work and participated in neighborhood meetings on key developments including Hawthorn Hall and Harbor Heights.
He is seeking the appointment to apply his more than 40 years of leadership experience to protect Mukilteo’s character through thoughtful, community-led planning, ensure reliable and sustainable city services, address infrastructure and mobility challenges and promote transparent, collaborative governance. He said the current council makeup presents a rare window to strengthen city processes while preserving what residents value most.
Applicant: Steve Baird, 26-year Mukilteo resident
Baird has worked at the Boeing Company for 36 years in systems design and development, business systems management, people management and project management roles. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from Central Washington University and associate degrees in arts and science from Highline Community College.
In community activities, Baird has participated in the Lynnwood Police Department Citizens Patrol, the Mukilteo Citizen’s Academy and served as a board member for his homeowners association.
Baird has no prior City Council experience. He reported no recent attendance at City Council meetings in his application.
He is seeking the appointment as a longtime resident and soon-to-be retiree to help keep Mukilteo “the warm, inviting, charming place I know it to be” and said it would be an honor to serve his city.
Applicant: Carolyn Carlson, 25-year Mukilteo resident
Carlson is a retired U.S. Postal Service manager. She has been deeply involved in the community, serving as president of the Mukilteo Seniors, Kiwanis Club and Community Garden. She has also served as vice president of the Lighthouse Festival (in charge of the parade), on the Mukilteo Ferry Advisory Committee, Historic Commission, Parks and Arts Commission, Rosehill Board and Housing Action Plan. She currently serves on the Snohomish County Parks Board and has volunteered with Leadership Launch, Packs for Kids and the Boys and Girls Club. She is a Master Gardener who was named Master Gardener of the Year and received the Distinguished Service Award.
Carlson identified the city budget, waterfront development and building working relationships with the Port and Tribes as top issues. She calls for fiscal restraint — “spend only necessities like the rest of us have to do” — and prioritizing full funding for police and fire services.
She is seeking the appointment because she “care[s] deeply for my city and would like to be a part of the decision making.”
Applicant: David Cook, 10-year Mukilteo resident
Cook has owned Origin Marketing/Cook Creative for more than 30 years, managing marketing campaigns, political initiatives and community projects. He currently works as a personal trainer, group fitness instructor and wellness coach at the YMCA Mukilteo. He holds associate degrees from the University of Maine (communications, art and design) and Central Maine Technical Center (graphic design).
His community activities include serving as board president of the Rose Hill Board and president of the Mukilteo Business Group, and as a Little League head coach for teams of children ages 7-9.
Cook reported attending only a few City Council meetings in the past 12 months but follows proceedings through the Mukilteo Beacon, online notes and conversations with residents. He identified waterfront development as a major opportunity to become “the jewel of Snohomish County,” foster business growth and tourism, and called for council members to set aside “egos, posturing and bickering” and work collaboratively in the city’s long-term interest.
He is seeking the appointment because he believes everyone has a responsibility to serve their community. Cook said he frequently hears residents express distrust and anxiety about city government and wants to help lead Mukilteo into the future with a government that residents can feel confident in.
Applicant: David Schlosser, 11-year Mukilteo resident
Schlosser is COO and vice president of sales at Electronic Business Machines, a position he has held for 22 years managing daily operations and a seven-person sales team covering territory from the Canadian border to Chehalis. He is also owner and CEO of MK Technology Leasing, which he has led for eight years. No education details were provided in his application.
His community activities include serving as a board member of the Everett Rotary Club for two years, where he chaired the Local Impact and Foreign Exchange committees; membership in the South Everett Mukilteo Rotary Club; 14 years coaching Mukilteo Little League (10 years regular season and four years All-Stars); and service as a junior board member with Camp Fire in Everett.
Schlosser identified fiscal responsibility as the top issue facing the council, emphasizing the need to remain financially stable, maintain public safety, attract appropriate business and pursue growth opportunities without raising taxes. He said greater efficiency would allow the city to better support its police department.
He is seeking the appointment because he “care[s] a great deal about the city that I grew up around and came home to” and wants to help make it safe for all while keeping it “a wonderful place to raise a family and have a business.”
Author: Mario Lotmore
