It’s official. Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling announced Thursday that he will run for a second term.
“I’m running for re-election because Edmonds is my home and a special place to live,” Earling said. “I care about this community and believe there is more to do to improve and protect the quality of life we all value as citizens of Edmonds.”
In his announcement, Earling cites a turnaround in city government since taking office in late 2011, including stabilizing city finances and a change in City of Edmonds culture that includes an open-door environment “with greater citizen access to city leaders and their work.” In addition, downtown Edmonds and other neighborhoods are seeing more business activity, the announcement said.
“Our city has improved a lot in recent years. Edmonds has always been a special place. Now it’s even better and more livable. But, we have more work to do,” Earling said.
Earling said he will campaign on key improvements during his second term that include:
· Addressing issues with safety and access to the waterfront
· Supporting continued business growth along Highway 99
· Prioritizing policies to support the success of neighborhood businesses in Five Corners, Westgate and near Swedish Medical Center
“I’m excited and energized by the opportunity to continue to lead city government and further improve our community,” he said. “There is more work to do to make sure Edmonds continues to be the kind of place we love calling home.”
Earling has lived in Edmonds with his wife Susan for 33 years. They have three children and two grandchildren, with a third expected this fall.
“Every foot is money”
“The other Edmonds”
These comments say it all.
Edmonds needs change and new ideas. Also, a government that listens to ALL its citizens and is fair and a government that follows the rule of law. In my opinion, we do not have that in this town. We actually have good people leaving because we do not have some of these things. I’ve heard people say Edmonds has always been this way……I say WOW! We don’t need a town that had three mayors and some of the city council testifying in court in downtown Seattle…..I can only imagine what that and all the “possible litigation” behind closed doors meetings costs $$$$$ our town.
We need new voices here more in touch with younger people and in touch with the global world we now live in……. and not more of the same old guard, functioning the way it has for a long time ……………..”open door environment”…….. “greater citizen access to leaders”……..With all due respect, its time for new leadership…….I don’t care how much money $$$$$$ comes from other entities a long way from our town or those in our town……It’s time to move into the future and this is not about giving our city away to special interests or those that have the most $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. I would also like to see our city more diverse with EVERYONE represented.
so, stone me too, I hear the posse sans chorus line coming…..we don’t really need any more of this either.
Edmonds, get your beach on!
Dave Earling has been a diligent public servant in Edmonds for just about as long as I’ve lived here (25+years). I appreciate all his efforts to make my community better. He has my vote!!
Mayor Earling is a strong supporter of the Strategic Action Plan for Edmonds. This is a plan created with the input of more than 2500 voter/citizens and was 2 years in the making. Council started the SAP process in April of 2011.
To validate the ideas of these 2500 folks, a statistically valid survey was conducted (almost 2 the sample size needed to be valid was used). The plan contains 88 items and to even make it into the plan and items needed the support of 4,000 voters. Some of the most supported items in the plan had more the 15,000 voter support. Just a few more than the SELECT FEW.
I would guess during the upcoming campaign season we will hear from all the candidates for Mayor and Council about their view and support of the SAP. The SAP is a Road Map for the future of Edmonds and Mayor Earling has supported it all along based on his State of the City meeting and the Town Hall meetings he has conducted.
Council supported the original plan in April of 2013 by a vote of 6 to 1. The SAP was updated earlier this month and approved by Council by a vote of 5-0-2.
Thank you Mayor Earling for your leadership over the past years. I hope we all become more familiar with the challenges and opportunities for Edmonds in the coming months of the campaign and select leaders who can help us move forward on the elements of the SAP.
A review of the March 10, 2015 Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes indicates that as of March 3, 2015, 6 of 88 Action Items have been completed.
A review of the final draft version of the Strategic Action Plan presented to Council on April 2, 2013 indicated that 18 items were scheduled for anywhere from 1 to 24 months.
“Months” refer to the probable production time involved in implementing an action task accounting for the specific steps involved in implementing an action task and its degree of complexity.
Is it correct to conclude that we had hoped to have 18 Action Items complete by now but we have completed 6 items?
Mayor Earling has provided balanced leadership and I congratulate him on his decision to run.
Mayor Earling has proven to be a sharp improvement over recent year’s past leadership.
I believe the Mayor does not appreciate that the citizens are at the top of the City’s organizational chart and that all citizens’ rights should be respected and that courtesy should be shown to all citizens.
I also believe the Mayor does not appreciate that, per our City’s Code, it is his DUTY to see that all laws and ordinances are faithfully enforced and that law and order are maintained in the City.
Our City’s Code also states that “The mayor shall devote full time to execution of the duties of the office of mayor AND shall not engage in any occupation or professional inconsistent with the full-time performance of the duties of mayor.”
Both are required.
Is it appropriate for the Mayor to sit on the following boards and committees?:
-Sound Transit Board of Directors
-Community Transit Board of Directors
-Economic Alliance Snohomish County Board
of Trustees
-AWC Legislative Committee
I can find no evidence that our City Council has ever approved that any of the above are official duties of the office of Mayor.
I applaud our Mayor for stepping up for another four years as in today’s polorizing governmental environment – we need leadership.
He has proven to be a great leader both in our City and in our region. I totally support his leadership in the regional committees as Edmonds has many unique issues to address in the near future such as the at-grade crossing and pedestrian safety issues, tourism, the continued development of the business centers in areas outside of the bowl (specifically Hwy 99 and the Hospital District) and of course, the daylighting Willow Creek so as to begin restoration of the Marsh.
Congratulations, Dave and thank your for running again.
Pedestrian safety issues? There have been numerous people hit by cars, three and maybe more, in downtown Edmonds in the last two years, two of those people died.
After numerous complaints to the City and the Mayor about speeding cars, nothing has been done about speeding in Edmonds.
It appears you and the present Mayor are not very good at addressing and/ or fixing real problems. Instead, you waste time on things like the Mayor’s Council on Climate Change.
I think Mayor Earling’s board and commission positions are more appropriate for a City Council Member. This is especially true in Edmonds because our code specifically requires devotion of full time to execution of the duties of the office of Mayor.
City Councilmembers should also fully appreciate that the citizens are at the top of the City’s organizational chart and that it is the Mayor’s DUTY to see that all laws and ordinances are faithfully enforced and that law and order are maintained in the City.
One way to address the duties of the Mayor would be to refer to the City Council Rules of Procedure and see how an item can be added to the City Council agenda. However, I don’t think we have clear documented procedures that are applied consistently.
Edmonds was incorporated in 1890 and I don’t think we have ever documented our comprehensive City Council Procedures.
The citizens deserve to know how items can be added to the City Council agenda.
Once this is known, citizens and/or the number of Council Members required can make an effort to get a review of ECC 2.01.040 on the agenda. An open public hearing can be held where citizens are given a chance to have their voices heard concerning what the official duties of the Mayor include.
I support such a process and I hope others do also. It would be great to do so promptly with a Mayoral election coming up.
Related to this, we have an urgent need to update the entire ECC, Titles 1-10. I’ve been stating this for years. I am happy that we are working on the ECDC, but the ECC is also a mess and badly needs to be updated.
Mayor Earling I am so happy you are running for a second term. You are a good leader.