Edmonds Beacon - Your Hometown News Source

Edmonds voters face an ultra-important decision this election season: Who do they want to lead the city during the next four years as it faces numerous challenges – from housing affordability, the future of Highway 99, and the overall vision of Edmonds?

But first, voters have to narrow the field from four to two. Who will be the two finalists moving on to the general election? Incumbent Mayor Mike Nelson? Longtime Councilmember Diane Buckshnis? Former City staffer Brad Shipley? Or businessman Mike Rosen?

The Beacon sent the candidates four questions to help readers decide who should move on to the general election. The primary is Aug. 1; ballots have already been mailed.

Here are the candidates' answers, alphabetically by last name.

DIANE BUCKSHNIS

What distinguishes you from other candidates? Politically and personally.

My community volunteering, along with my 13 years on the City Council, makes me uniquely qualified to be the next Edmonds Mayor.

Since moving to Edmonds in 2001 and retiring in 2005, I ingratiated myself within the community through my involvements with the Edmonds Arts Festival; Floretum Garden Club; Rotary (including Court Appointed Special Advocates ad litem program); Off-Leash Area Edmonds (founding member, creating the nonprofit status and Corporate Treasurer for 17 years); environmental activism; and extensive work with the Edmonds Senior Center (including founding co-capital campaign manager with Rose Cantwell, who along with many dedicated volunteers led to the lovely Edmonds Waterfront Center that we celebrate today). 

I continued these volunteer efforts throughout my City Council terms. Importantly, through these diverse involvements I connected with many Edmonds citizens, hearing their thoughts and concerns about many issues facing our community which contributed to my pragmatic decision-making record. 

Similarly, my extensive legislative experience and expansive regional contacts provide me with the institutional knowledge necessary to hit the ground running and be an effective mayor.

In the words of former Edmonds Finance Director Scott James at my mayoral candidacy announcement event: "Simply stated, Diane lives Edmonds, loves Edmonds, and leads Edmonds."

What are your top 3 priorities and why?

First, financial responsibility, as well as government transparency and accountability. 

Financial responsibility is always a citizen concern because how we spend taxpayers' money is a direct reflection of our priorities. Being a budget watchdog has always been a focus of mine. 

As mayor, prudent fiscal management will be a hallmark, with the goal of strengthening internal controls and moving to a more transparent, citizen-driven "budgeting by priorities" process.

Second, protecting the character of neighborhoods, while ensuring public safety and promoting inclusiveness.

Ensuring public safety and well-being is a key priority of municipal government. Recent state-mandated housing bills will require zoning changes to maintain the character of our neighborhoods while safeguarding and enhancing safety.

Addressing these issues will require us to fast-track the code rewrite to address these issues.

Third, environmental stewardship, including protecting and restoring our streams and estuaries: The city has not pursued environmental stewardship from a holistic standpoint, necessary for obtaining needed grant funding.

Negative environmental impacts often result from unintended consequences associated with development policies that aren't approached holistically. As such, a task force is needed to create masterplans, ensuring that our development codes are updated to protect our watersheds, open space, and tree canopy.    

The Edmonds mayoral and council positions are intended to be nonpartisan, but it often seems there is an "us vs. them" mentality. Would you commit to working with all citizens of Edmonds – those in the Bowl, Highway 99, and other neighborhoods? How would you do this?

Yes, my platform has always been "Community Interests Come First," and I believe it's time to put Edmonds' citizens back on top of the organizational chart. I value communication with citizens as their input is critical to helping achieve that balance between protecting Edmonds' traditions while shaping Edmonds' future.

Edmonds has a very engaged community willing to share their ideas and concerns. Whether through emails, phone calls, town halls I have held throughout the city, or even chance encounters around town, I hear them, respect their views, and respond constructively.

In fact, my priorities reflect citizen concerns and suggestions.

My record reflects my efforts throughout the city, but it's also important that citizens understand that progress takes time, as infrastructure needs, environmental impacts, and neighborhood considerations need to be addressed.

For example, it took over five years to initiate improvements in the International District, two years to address citizen concerns in creating the Hospital District, and about three years to finalize the Highway 99 sub-area plan.

As mayor, I will work collaboratively with neighborhoods, business districts, our chamber, our boards and commissions, and other stakeholders to determine innovative ways where we broadened the scope beyond our vibrant and charming downtown.  

Edmonds homes and rents are through the roof. There is much talk about affordable housing, but the reality is that new apartments are just too expensive for many. Is affordable housing a thing of the past in Edmonds? Can anything be done?

With the housing stock coming on the market within our region, it is uncertain what rental rates will command. The law of supply and demand in a coastal community makes our property very expensive and, unfortunately, pocket forests are being razed or smaller housing stock is being replaced with large homes.

That said, it's important that we maintain and expand housing diversity to include more smaller single-family, duplex/triplex, and cottage housing as well as additional multifamily homes where appropriate.

This housing diversity is needed to address seniors looking to downsize as well as young families looking to experience Edmonds' wonderful amenities and community. Thus, it's critical to first implement the necessary code and design standards so that citizens and developers alike understand the requirements and expectations, ensuring the character of our neighborhoods is protected.

Further, it allows us to reexamine and then appropriately implement the 2019 Housing Commission recommendations with a better understanding of potential impacts – note that very few of these recommendations have yet to be implemented by the current administration.

Lastly, my regional contacts will help ensure Edmonds receives suitable funding from Snohomish County HB 1590 to support affordable housing for which subsidies are needed.  

The Edmonds School District in 2020 decided not to renew an interlocal contract with the City of Edmonds for a police school resource officer at Edmonds-Woodway. It cited public concern that police officers should not be on campus, and their presence had a harmful effect on students of color. Would you work to renew an interlocal agreement? Why or why not?

This is an interesting and complex question that has yet to be addressed by the current administration.  I've been the council liaison to the Youth Commission for the last two years, so I'm aware of the students' concerns.

The police school resource officer can be an integral part of the school system. But the roles, responsibilities, expectations, oversight, and most importantly the officer's authority, must be clearly defined.

These responsibilities must be negotiated collaboratively with input from students, teachers, parents, the school board, the superintendent, the principal along with our police chief, myself as mayor, and likely a councilmember.

Fortunately, our police force is very diverse, and these officers may also be helpful in the discussions. Perhaps a compromise might be to identify an off-site police officer(s) on call that could be contacted directly by students, parents, teachers, etc., if they have questions or concerns.

As your mayor, I would first start with a discussion with our police chief and the Edmonds-Woodway High School principal before pursuing this issue further. That said, as a councilmember, I have always been in favor of interlocal agreements because we must think and act regionally as it benefits the community at large. 

MIKE NELSON

What distinguishes you from other candidates? Politically and personally.

What separates me from other candidates are my actions that have improved our quality of life. I am the only candidate with:

• Experience keeping our community safe and resilient during a pandemic by delivering millions of dollars to residents and businesses impacted by COVID;

• A record of improving public safety, hiring more police officers and firefighters, and who is endorsed by the Edmonds Police Officers' Association and South County Firefighters, Local 1828;

• A record of protecting our environment, including acquiring more park funding, more parkland, and an agreement to eventually purchase and restore the Edmonds Marsh;

• A record of caring for Edmonds residents long ignored by creating a Human Services Department and helping over 600 residents that were struggling;

• A record of taking action to prevent gun violence in Edmonds, who is supported by Moms Demand Action and the Alliance for Gun Responsibility;

• A record of making investments along Highway 99, including safety and beautification improvements, a new neighborhood city hall, uptown market, and a potential landmark property acquisition;

• An understanding that government is not a business; we work for the common good and ensure those with the least are never left behind.

What are your top 3 priorities and why?

Strong communities: We've modernized our Police Department, funded two more firefighters per shift, quadrupled funding for our Pedestrian Safety Plan, and created a new Human Services Program and social worker to meet the needs of our most vulnerable.

I am so proud of what we have accomplished in a short time, but there is more work to be done to ensure Edmonds remains the best place to live.

Prosperity: Through careful stewardship of resources through COVID, we achieved record economic growth, helped our local businesses keep their doors open, and preserved the vitality of our downtown.

As mayor, I will continue to lead our Uptown for Everyone improvements along Highway 99 like the new landmark site, support our unique small businesses, and continue to grow our local economy.

Healthy environment: As mayor, I've helped improve and expand our wonderful parks and open spaces, ensuring our playgrounds are accessible and inclusive.

Together, we will make Edmonds more walkable by completing our new path system to connect our parks and schools and continue to drive our City's stewardship by restoring the Edmonds Marsh and implementing our new climate change plan to help sustain our city for future generations. 

The Edmonds mayoral and council positions are intended to be nonpartisan, but it often seems there is an "us vs. them" mentality. Would you commit to working with all citizens of Edmonds – those in the Bowl, Highway 99, and other neighborhoods? How would you do this?

One way to address us vs. them in our city is to look into where actual city resources have been distributed in the past. We can see actual disparities of citywide investments in some neighborhoods over others.

Some believe that if your neighborhood is the most organized and loudest, you should be prioritized. Unfortunately, this is what has occurred in the past, and we see the results.

The Edmonds Bowl has historically received more resources than any other neighborhood. Is that fair to the other neighborhoods in Edmonds? 

What you find when you invest in historically underserved neighborhoods is the entire city benefits, not just the select few. This is why I have prioritized efforts along Highway 99. 

We recently updated our parks plan and researched whether our parks were equally distributed throughout the city, and discovered in one section of our city there is a deficit of three parks. This inequity highlights that those who support the status quo are actually moving Edmonds backward.

I want to continue to move forward in distributing City resources to level the playing field for all residents in our city. 

Edmonds homes and rents are through the roof. There is much talk about affordable housing, but the reality is that new apartments are just too expensive for many. Is affordable housing a thing of the past in Edmonds? Can anything be done?

The Washington State Legislature passed several laws this year that will have a significant impact on the availability of more affordable homes. They took away the ability of cities, like Edmonds, to control local zoning.

One law will require cities with our population size to legalize two homes per lot, and four per lot if one of the homes is affordable. The effect is the developer is incentivized to build an affordable unit because they can build more units in the same footprint.

Another law was passed that will allow two unattached or attached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) per lot. Currently, our city allows only one ADU, and it must be attached. 

It is projected that these bills together could make up for at least half of the gap of what Washington state needs to build to address the housing shortage over the next 20 years.

Affordable housing is defined by the law as 60% of area median income for rentals, and 80% of area median income for ownership.

The challenge for our city will be to protect and be creative in keeping our unique small-town character as we are required to accommodate future housing needs. 

The Edmonds School District in 2020 decided not to renew an interlocal contract with the City of Edmonds for a police school resource officer at Edmonds-Woodway. It cited public concern that police officers should not be on campus, and their presence had a harmful effect on students of color. Would you work to renew an interlocal agreement? Why or why not?

I support evidence-based measures that are effective at preventing gun violence at our schools. Our love of our children must be greater than our love of guns. We need fewer guns at our schools, not more.

These firearms must never reach our schools in the first place. I don't accept that this is just the way it is. Every other democratic country has laws in place that are effective. The rest of the world does not have school shootings like we do.

While SROs make communities feel safer, there is no study that shows having officers in schools results in fewer deadly school shootings. I support closer collaboration with the school district in how our officers can best help prevent school shootings.

When I served on the City Council, I passed a local ordinance requiring firearms to be locked up when not in use to prevent access to children since we know most firearms in the home are unsecured.

Unfortunately, the state Supreme Court disagreed and felt cities should only regulate knives and cigarettes, but not guns.

MIKE ROSEN

What distinguishes you from other candidates? Politically and personally.

Each candidate brings something different to the position. I encourage individuals to talk to people who have worked with each candidate and ask them whom they support and why.

This is a unique time in Edmonds, and I believe my unique combination of experience, skills, temperament and demonstrated successes exactly match the requirements of the job and the immediate needs of the city.

Voters will decide who they want to hire as the CEO of the city. I've managed 100-plus staff, multimillion-dollar budgets and hundreds of projects simultaneously. I have successfully brought people and organizations together to build consensus and create partnerships to solve big problems.

I am a moderate and am nonpartisan. I was trusted and called upon by Fortune 500 companies, as well as hundreds of large and small government agencies across the country. I have addressed major social issues and created programs that improved transportation, health, and the environment.

It isn't just what I've done, the scale of what I've done, or for whom I've done it, but also the successes I have had that differentiate me from the other candidates.

What are your top 3 priorities and why?

Safety. We must ensure people in Edmonds get immediate help 24/7/365 wherever they are. Protection and response should cover risks including crime, health crises, fire, accidents, catastrophic events, and safety on our streets and sidewalks. I also believe that protection is best achieved when it is done through prevention.

Protecting why we live here. We must address the challenges of population growth, traffic, crime, drugs, homelessness, food insecurity, aging infrastructure, and rising costs. We must also retain the things we love here, including our environment and biodiversity. We are a diverse community and we must ensure opportunities exist for everyone to thrive and have pride in this place we all call home.

Protecting taxpayer money. Government is a steward of hard-earned tax dollars. Each dollar must be invested carefully and serve the needs of the community. We should be focusing first on "musts" before considering "wants."

Bonus answer: Trust. Government moves at the speed of trust, which must be earned. I will be transparent, accessible, and accountable. I will help create a public engagement process ensuring all of Edmonds has a meaningful voice in decisions impacting their daily life.

The Edmonds mayoral and council positions are intended to be nonpartisan, but it often seems there is an "us vs. them" mentality. Would you commit to working with all citizens of Edmonds – those in the Bowl, Highway 99, and other neighborhoods? How would you do this?

This is a major reason I decided to run. The question illustrates multiple problems, starting with "us vs. them." However, I have great respect for the people of Edmonds and believe that most individuals reject this approach and want to have civilized discussions focused on solutions and the merits of ideas, rather than categorizing people and their opinions into "us vs them."

Working with all citizens: Those who live in Edmonds are diverse in ways beyond geography. We are different ages, with different financial resources, different heritages, and languages. We live in single-family and multifamily homes; we live alone and in large extended families. We are different genders and have different challenges.

The mayor must serve all residents and also ensure a future for generations to come where opportunities exist for everyone to thrive.

How I'll do it: I'll start by communicating. A lot. I'll be transparent, accessible, and accountable. People will have a meaningful voice in decisions impacting them. They will have opportunities to express their opinions and ideas in ways that are convenient and respectful of their differences, time pressures, values, attitudes, beliefs, and challenges. And, I will listen.

Edmonds homes and rents are through the roof. There is much talk about affordable housing, but the reality is that new apartments are just too expensive for many. Is affordable housing a thing of the past in Edmonds? Can anything be done?

The Great Recession made Edmonds home prices and rents even worse. Residential construction fell dramatically. Millennials who delayed homeownership began looking.

Then came COVID. Low-interest rates and high demand came at the exact time as labor and material shortages and a supply chain crisis. Construction costs skyrocketed, as did the cost of land. And Edmonds has expensive land.

Building small, affordable homes can't absorb increased costs and a need for profit, resulting in large high-end homes. Home sellers might get offers from a first-time buyer, but are frequently outbid. There is no silver bullet, and we can't fix it alone.

This is a complex issue requiring a complex set of actions. We must address the inventory needs as a region and create a common vision for our city and each of our neighborhoods. Reduced construction and operating costs are needed for rentals, as is identification of locations that make sense.

We must incentivize opportunities to drive down construction costs and improve financing opportunities for first-time buyers and for existing homes. Every national and state resource should be leveraged.

And yes, we should increase the number and variety of housing types and depth of affordability, especially around transit centers.

The Edmonds School District in 2020 decided not to renew an interlocal contract with the City of Edmonds for a police school resource officer at Edmonds-Woodway. It cited public concern that police officers should not be on campus, and their presence had a harmful effect on students of color. Would you work to renew an interlocal agreement? Why or why not?

I would engage in finding a solution with the school district. I believe that school staff, students, parents, and the community are best served when a school is safe, allowing each child a better chance of achieving their potential.

I would also welcome the opportunity to partner with Edmonds School District, and other regional organizations, to create a path to reduce violence and increase personal safety; reduce bullying and gang activity; improve cultural competencies and conflict resolution skills and the ability to deescalate volatile situations; reduce dating violence and substance abuse; and implement emergency preparedness and incident management.

I believe students also benefit from access to informal counselors and confidants, which helps identify individuals at risk and the ability to intervene and provide early support. Ultimately the objective is safety.

It is best if we can deter and prevent crime. However, we must ensure that schools are safe and offer an immediate response to emergencies.

I would engage with the district and all stakeholders to validate those objectives and explore other potential opportunities to achieve those outcomes, which may or may not include the use of Edmonds Police school resource officers.

BRAD SHIPLEY

What distinguishes you from other candidates? Politically and personally.

My path to candidacy sets me apart from the other contenders. With a lifelong interest in how city design influences social interactions, I am driven to address existing challenges.

Years ago, I left a lucrative finance position to pursue a career in urban design, and my candidacy is a natural extension of this pursuit.

Recognizing the financial unsustainability of our car-centric infrastructure and its impact on community well-being, I aim to foster more casual social interactions vital to the community's health and well-being.

Edmonds, with its unique geography and pre-automobile history, presents opportunities for re-balancing the utilization of our public space.

Having spent a decade working on planning issues, I possess a deep understanding of our decision-making processes and policy implementation gaps. My candidacy is not driven by political gain; instead, it stems from a true passion for building efficient, environmentally conscious cities that uplift communities.

Unlike other candidates, I intimately comprehend the functioning of City Hall, City Council, and Edmonds residents, having worked closely with them over the last decade. My background equips me to navigate state and federal policies while preserving Edmonds' distinct charm.

With two decades dedicated to this profession, I believe in bringing Edmonds residents together by focusing on areas of agreement and fostering stronger connections within our community.

What are your top 3 priorities and why?

When discussing priorities, it is essential to clarify the core values underpinning them. My vision for Edmonds revolves around creating a community that accommodates diverse needs and fosters self-sufficiency.

This entails addressing transportation, housing, and improving communication within city government.

Currently, our transportation system heavily relies on automobiles, limiting alternatives for those unable or unwilling to drive or own a car, particularly the youth and economically challenged.

To foster inclusivity, we must collaboratively explore creative solutions to rebalance our public space usage.

Regarding housing, state mandates require accommodating various housing types.

As a candidate well-versed in urban design, I possess extensive experience in implementing development codes and creating subarea plans, which sets me apart from other contenders who struggle separating concept from reality when land-use regulation is concerned.

A crucial factor in addressing these issues is evolving city government communication. My commitment lies in promoting open, transparent government, and collaborating with all stakeholders to develop solutions that benefit the entire community.

The Edmonds mayoral and council positions are intended to be nonpartisan, but it often seems there is an "us vs. them" mentality. Would you commit to working with all citizens of Edmonds – those in the Bowl, Highway 99, and other neighborhoods? How would you do this?

I have established positive relationships with both the City Council and the residents of Edmonds. Living near Highway 99 has given me valuable insight into the challenges faced by neighborhoods beyond the Bowl, which often feel overlooked and underappreciated.

Prioritizing effective communication is one of my key commitments, aiming to build trust and foster equitable relationships to advance our community.

To achieve this, I propose collaborating with the City Council to allocate funding for a dedicated communications team. This team will be equipped to work across various media platforms and engage with under-represented community groups, ensuring their voices are heard during the city's policy development process.

Drawing from my experience as a former member of the City staff, I am confident that without a dedicated communications team, future efforts will lack coherence and consistency.

Edmonds homes and rents are through the roof. There is much talk about affordable housing, but the reality is that new apartments are just too expensive for many. Is affordable housing a thing of the past in Edmonds? Can anything be done?

To facilitate the construction of new affordable housing, subsidies, and carefully calibrated incentives are essential. The housing supply issue, resulting from zoning nearly 75% of the land area for single-family homes, has artificially contributed to the problem.

Shifting away from the assumption that new developments must solely cater to affordable housing is crucial, given the higher costs involved in new construction.

Existing housing can offer affordability through a well-documented filtering process, where new market-rate housing encourages moderate-income households to upgrade, thereby freeing up more affordable older homes to the market.

While the city lacks control over certain factors such as state and federal policies, interest rates, and building code requirements, we can influence housing availability locally.

By expanding the housing types allowed, revising our development standards (e.g., setbacks, design standards, and lot dimension requirements) where appropriate, and creating permitting processes to be more efficient and accommodating for affordable housing projects, I am confident we can make meaningful progress at a local level while retaining the existing community character.

The Edmonds School District in 2020 decided not to renew an interlocal contract with the City of Edmonds for a police school resource officer at Edmonds-Woodway. It cited public concern that police officers should not be on campus, and their presence had a harmful effect on students of color. Would you work to renew an interlocal agreement? Why or why not?

Ensuring safety in our schools is a shared priority for all. However, it is crucial to recognize that this falls under the jurisdiction of the Edmonds School District, not within the future mayor's purview to decide unilaterally.

If the Edmonds School District reconsiders and desires to reestablish an interlocal agreement with the city, I, as mayor, would collaborate with the district and the Edmonds Police Department to ensure that police officers assigned to schools are adept at building positive relationships with our diverse student body, particularly those who may feel uneasy about their presence.