CITY LIGHTS

By Al Hooper

Tall guys get all the breaks. The best jobs. The fast promotions. The compliant chicks. No wonder Napoleon, the runt of the litter, wanted to compensate by conquering the world.

One modern-day Frenchman who knows his pain is French President Nicolas Sarkozy. While Mr. Sarkozy denies plans for world domination, he too is vertically challenged. Stands 5-feet-7. In thick socks. With padded heels.

How does he deal with small-man syndrome? He surrounds himself with short people at photo-ops. And they all know enough to bend their knees.

Tall people earn more, live longer and have higher IQs, declares author Arianne Cohen in The Tall Book.

How, then, does she explain the primary election results for Position 3 on Edmonds City Council?

The tape measure, please:

Incumbent Ron Wambolt towers 5-feet-10. Challenger Lora Petso is 5-4, although feisty enough to have played basketball in college. And front-runner Adrienne Fraley-Monillas is a concise 5-feet-3.

And yet and yet the trio finished in reverse order Ms. Fraley-Monillas with 3,015 votes, Ms. Petso 2,831 and Mr. Wambolt 2,824.

Moral: Size doesnt count in politics, either.

Adrienne Fraley-Monillas (hereinafter to be known by her acronym AFM) and Lora Petso now move on to the general election Nov. 3, while Ron Wambolt cleans out his desk.

Im disappointed, admits Mr. Wambolt. It wasnt my intention to run for a second term, but when citizens convinced me to change my mind I entered to win.

His supporters see Mr. Wambolt as a voice of reason ensnared between councils Traditionalists (who favor strict limits on building heights) and Progressives (who would tolerate exceptions in specific cases).

Alas, as they say. As a politician Mr. Wambolt is no politician. Many view this as a good thing, but when it was learned his campaign contributions included a $1,000 donation from big-time developer Al Dykes, it was a red flag to others.

Mr. Wambolts defiant response? Why shouldnt developers have someone on council willing to listen to their presentations? Arent they entitled to a hearing, too?

The no-tall-buildings crusaders leapt on this statement with pitchforks flailing. And his opponents loped past him while he was still taking stitches in the ER.

Still, Lora Petsos late surge surprised some, including Yr Obedt Servt. While several candidates were soaring above $10,000 in campaign funding, Ms. Petso declared not one dime.

We asked her about it:

CITY LIGHTS: Were you surprised at how well you did in the primary?

MS. PETSO: Actually, no. Ive always managed to survive primary elections, even against strong opposition (councilmen Michael Plunkett and Strom Peterson last time).

CITY LIGHTS: But you appeared to have only a limited interest in the campaign. I believe you raised no campaign contributions whatever. Correct?

MS. PETSO: Not correct. I chose to raise and spend less than $5,000 in total so I wouldnt need to fill out those tedious Public Disclosure reports.

CITY LIGHTS: How did you pay for your election signs?

MS. PETSO: I saved the signs from prior campaigns.

And now to you, Adrienne Fraley-Monillas. How do you see the forthcoming matchup?

I can tell you I work well on divided boards and work hard to gain consensus, says Ms. AFM. Philosophically, I don't believe it needs to be one way or the other. You always have the middle and the ability to find consensus and move forward.

She goes on, I also have a good feel for the common concerns of the people of Edmonds. Hear me LOUD! Edmonds is much more than the downtown area. We are Perrinville, Ballinger, Firdale, Seaview, Sherwood, Aurora, Five Corners and so forth.

The majority of people who live in Edmonds don't live in the so-called `bowl nor are the bowls issues their priority. They want to see open transparent government, common sense building, no new taxes, sound environmental decisions and smart spending.

Over here Lora Petso is saying:

Ive promised that if elected in November, I will have a prepared set of `Financial Policies for discussion by the time I take office in January.

She adds meaningfully, I tried to implement Financial Policies during my first term on council, but failed to get the necessary support. Times have changed. I think the city is ready.

Whoever prevails, neither candidate is likely to be intimidated by any tree-top types.

Both of them believe this:

Smart people are tall inside.