Dixon’s picks for the upcoming Mukilteo election
For the upcoming Mukilteo election on November 4, I support and endorse the following candidates: Dode Carlson over Jim Sterba. Dode’s long record of civil and public service must be given consideration. After retiring as our city postmaster, Dode has been incredibly active as a leader in many of our community organizations, including the Lighthouse […]
Thank you for the veto, now let’s squarely address Mukilteo’s challenges
Thank you, Mayor Marine, for vetoing the councilmanic sales tax. Now let’s turn our attention to other pressing matters facing the city. We need 10% cuts immediately – as I outlined in detail last September and October, both at the dais and in op-eds. Here is my 20-point plan for Mukilteo: 1. Rollback non-represented salaries to […]
Mayor vetoes sales tax increase that would have made Mukilteo highest in Washington state
MUKILTEO—Mayor Joe Marine has vetoed Ordinance 1518, a measure adopted by the Mukilteo City Council on June 16, 2025, that would have raised the city’s sales tax to the highest rate in Washington State. “As Mayor, I take seriously the responsibility to balance our financial needs with the realities our residents and businesses face,” said […]
Lynnwood’s Juneteenth Freedom Festival unites hundreds in commemorating emancipation
LYNNWOOD—Project Girl hosted its third annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival at Cedar Valley Community School in Lynnwood on Thursday, June 19, to commemorate the day the last remaining people in the United States were freed from the evil of slavery and servitude. “I think our community is starting to support us now,” said Olympia Edwards, Founder of Project Girl Mentoring Program […]
Commentary: Mukilteo Council to residents, ‘Let them eat cake!’
As a councilmember, it is my privilege to spend time understanding city finances and explaining them to our residents who are busy living their lives, assuming we are managing their interests well. We are not. At Monday’s City Council meeting on June 16, the mayor presided over a simple majority of the council that gifted […]
Port of Everett Memorial Day ceremony honors those who gave the ultimate sacrifice
EVERETT—Approximately 150 attended the second annual Port of Everett Memorial Day Ceremony at Pacific Rim Plaza to honor the brave men and women who died in war. The event was opened, and emceed, by Lt. Colonel Dan Mathews, Retired Air Force veteran before Robin Hilt performed the National Anthem. Chaplain Lt. Kurtis Matheny, U.S. Navy, […]
I fear nothing when I am in the right
“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” ― John Adams, The Portable John Adams To keep the math simple, $140,000 of cuts per year on a $20 million expenditure budget equals 0.70%. This is what […]
Letter-to-Editor: Re-elect Mayor Joe Marine
I am delighted that Mayor Joe Marine is running for re-election, and I encourage my fellow Mukilteans to support him. He has been an outstanding mayor with vision for our city. He is highly capable, cares about all of Mukilteo, and has a pleasant, collaborative personality—plus an endless supply of dad jokes. We are so […]
I oppose wasting further time discussing time limits
Below is a table I compiled from reviewing the history of regular and special meetings on Granicus. The number indicates the number of meetings exceeding 4 hours in the middle column and 5 hours in the right column. Below that you will see the 15-year average, which spanned numerous councils, two iterations of the current […]
Hawthorne Hall fiasco, what you need to know
Kudos to the shrewd local businessman who paid $500,000 to purchase from the city a pristine real estate parcel—Hawthorne Hall—zoned single family and appraised at $830,000. He acted to pursue his vision for the city’s property. Shame to my four fellow councilmembers and the mayor for this tone deaf and fiscally derelict decision to execute […]
