Candidates file for Sultan, Gold Bar, Index, Skykomish elections

Last week was candidate filing week at the Snohomish County Auditor's office, with numerous positions open for election in 2015. This week, the Monroe Monitor & Valley News is giving a broad overview of the political landscape in the Sky Valley, with more in-depth coverage to come.

Sultan mayor-á

The City of Sultan is ramping up for a robust campaign season, as the mayor and three City Council seats are up for election. Sultan Mayor Carolyn Eslick, currently serving in her second term as the mayor, decided to forgo a second bid for the Snohomish County executive seat and is running for a third term as mayor. She will face opponent Ray George, who is married to former Sultan City Councilmember Kay George.

Sultan council position No. 7-á

Incumbent Jeffrey Beeler will face challenger Kay George for Sultan City Council Position No. 7. Kay served on the council for two years before losing her 2013 bid for reelection to Councilmember Rocky Walker, who won by four votes. Two official recounts were performed by the Snohomish County Auditor's office to verify the close numbers.

Kay has long advocated for lower utility rates and the privatization of the city's garbage service, along with equity among elected officials and citizens in terms of city business licenses. She stood in opposition of a recent resolution that allowed businesses participating in a mall-like retail environment to obtain city business licenses for a reduced fee, feeling that it unfairly benefitted Eslick's GROW Washington clients and no one else.-á

During her time on the council, she confronted Beeler when she learned that he didn't have a city business license for his business.

"In my last term, I would not remain silent when finding out my current opponent had been operating a business for more than a decade without a Sultan city business license,GÇ¥ Kay said. "I publically indicated I did not believe his excuse that he just did not think he needed one.GÇ¥-á

Sultan council position No. 5-á

Council Position No. 5 incumbent Joe Neigel will face off against Al Wirta, a longtime Sultan resident, business owner and member of the Utility Stakeholder Group. The Utility Stakeholders Group has been involved in a lawsuit against the City of Sultan for what it alleges to be misappropriation of the city's utility funds. Members of the group claim that the city utilized funds from its garbage, water and sewer funds to pay for the day-to-day operations of the city unrelated to the utilities, which is illegal.

Although not specifically named in the lawsuit, both Ray and Kay George have been affiliated with the Utility Stakeholders Group. The lawsuit has continued to progress through legal channels and, in April, the court denied the city's motion for a summary judgement. This means that the suit will likely move forward to trial. -á

Sultan council position No. 4-á

Bart Dalmasso, also a member of the Utility Stakeholders Group, will challenge 20-year-old candidate Russell Wiita for Council Position No. 4, which is currently filled by Sarah Davenport-Smith. Davenport-Smith is the only incumbent not seeking reelection this term.-á

Wiita, a University of Washington student, just completed an internship in Olympia working for 39th District Reps. Elizabeth Scott and Dan Kristiansen. Wiita announced his candidacy on Monday, May 11.

Wiita served in student government while at Sultan High School and was appointed student representative of the Sultan City Council. While at the University of Washington, he served on the student senate. If elected, he plans to focus on public safety, transparency within the framework of Sultan's city government and economic growth.

Wiita identifies his youth as an advantage in terms of the political arena.-á

"I think bringing a fresh perspective to any sort of decision making is really important,GÇ¥ Wiita said.-á

Dalmasso ran as a write-in during the 2013 election, losing to Councilmember Marianne Naslund.

Snohomish County Fire District No. 5 Commissioner Dr. Brian Copple is unopposed in his bid for reelection, and Sultan School District No. 311 director candidates Russ Sumpter, Cindy Buoy and Ed Husmann will all run unopposed.-á

Big turnover in Index council

The Town of Index will have a lively campaign season with all five council positions up for election. Council Position No. 1 is the only uncontested seat, as Councilmember Karen Sample is not seeking reelection. Charles Davis filed for candidacy and will run unopposed.

Council Position No. 2 incumbent Bob Hubbard will face opponent Rick Bott, and Council Position No. 3 incumbent Blair Corson will face opponent Peter Gott.-á

Corson and his family own the Bush House Inn and the Outdoor Adventure Center, both located in Index. Gott has served on the Index town council in the past. -á

Index council position No. 4-á

Council Position No. 4 incumbent Alexander Gibb will face opponent Travis Freeman.-á

Freeman, 30, has lived in both the Gold Bar and Index areas for 25 years and works as a whitewater rafting guide. Passionate about the outdoors, he now lives in Index with his wife and young son. -á -á

"I am running because I feel someone like myself can assist in maintaining a classic and historical presence in our quaint, little town,GÇ¥ Freeman said. "I want to help preserve what we have here, while still considering ecologically friendly improvements to all of our lives.GÇ¥

Index council position No. 5-á

Two candidates have stepped forward to run for Council Position No. 5, as incumbent Ed Boress will not seek reelection. Robert Shepardson will run against Kem Hunter, former mayor of Index. As mayor, Hunter worked with U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and U.S. Rep. Rick Larson to officially create the Wild Sky Wilderness Act. Wild Sky was a hard-fought designation that established 106,577 acres in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest as a federal wilderness area.

Index School District No. 63 candidates Hester Sylvia, Katrina Murphy and Amy Johnson will all run unopposed.-á

Fire District No. 28 candidates Patrick Sample and Leigh Christianson will run unopposed.-á

Skykomish, Gold Bar elections slim-á

The Town of Skykomish has three council positions up for election. Incumbents Kevin Weiderstrom and Henry Sladek have both filed for candidacy and are running unopposed. Jennifer Childs is running for Council Position No. 1 and is also unopposed.-á

Skykomish School District No. 404 director candidates are slim. No one has filed for either Position No. 1 or Position No. 3, and Dan Woodford is running unopposed for Position No. 5.-á

With two City Council seats up for election, the City of Gold Bar is also struggling for candidates. As of 4 p.m. on Friday, May 15, no candidate had filed for either Council Position No. 4, currently held by Robert Strom, or Council Position No. 5, held by Paul Jones. Per Washington State RCW, if no candidates file for a position, a special three-day filing period will be held in August.-á

Gold Bar Fire District No. 26 candidates Michelle Adie and Molly Olson will run unopposed.-á