Edmonds City Council Position 1 candidate Chris Eck will be hosting her campaign kickoff event at 6 p.m. Monday, July 10, at Edmonds’ Salish Sea Boathouse in Edmonds.
Eck is seeking the Position 1 seat now held by Dave Teitzel, who was appointed to fill the remainder of late Councilmember Kristiana Johnson’s term. Teitzel is not running for election. Former Edmonds Planning Board Chair Roger Pence is also running for the position.
“I’m excited to kick off my campaign in Edmonds among friends, family, colleagues and community members,” said Eck. “My kickoff event is open to the public because I want everyone to feel welcome and to know that the foundation of my campaign is based in community and collaboration.”
Speakers will include 21st District State Representative and County Councilmember Strom Peterson and Edmonds City Councilmember Susan Paine, both of whom have endorsed Eck.
RSVP for the July 10 event by emailing chris@electchriseck.com
How long has she lived in Edmonds?
Hi Jennifer – I’d love the opportunity to meet you and to hear your priorities in person when you have time.
Best regards,
Chris
chris@electchriseck.com
Why is this a concern?
Chris Eck ran for city council two years ago in Lynnwood and lost. Then moved here. In fact, much of her website wording is the same as it was on her Lynnwood campaign. Now she wants to be a decision maker in our city? What history does she have here? None.
She is endorsed by all the Democrats and Democrat organizations. This is a nonpartisan position. Can she be trusted to represent all of the citizens of Edmonds?
Sounds like Chris is looking to be a career politician, sponsored by the Democrat Party, and Edmonds is her stepping stone.
Hi Carolyn – I appreciate your questions, and would love to hear your concerns and priorities in person if that works for you. chris@electchriseck.com
Best regards,
Chris
Something else to think about is that we had, as recently as two years ago, a Mayor Council voting block that controlled almost all decisions for the city during that time period. Ask yourself if one Council Person supporting another for election or re-election a good thing?
CM Susan Paine is one of Chris Eck’s largest financial contributors. Highly partisan Paine and Strom Peterson endorsements are deal killers for me. Especially with recent housing legislation forcing abdication of local zoning oversight to be controlled at the State level. “Birds of a feather fly together”.
How can long should a person live in Edmonds before running for office? Folks always bring this up, so I thought I’d ask. I understand there is no legal requirement but there seems to be an informal understanding. I have been told by some long-time residents that I need to live here at least 10 years before running with a chance of success or even to be appointed to a city commission. The other message I’ve received is that where I lived before moving to Edmonds is a factor.
I agree w/KG that there is no test of resident citizenship based on how long someone has lived anywhere. The neighbors down the street who moved here last week, & the ones who lived here before I arrived are my equal Edmonds resident & citizen. Those running for election are also my equal Edmonds citizen … but they are asking for more, they want to represent me. It’s been my habit to look at a person’s history of work in their career & political efforts. I might very well like a candidate that comes from another area to ours, I think Edmonds is pretty desirable. I could also feel more cynical, depending on how the narratives sound/read. I’ll vote for the candidate who’s convinced me the most that they will bring the best public service. Ambitions are not inherently wrong, we are all capable of aspiration & desire.
I believe there is a legal requirement that to run for an elected Edmonds office you must have lived in Edmonds one full year by election day. Has that requirement changed?
Kim Gunning – per RCW 35A.12.030:
Eligibility to hold elective office.
No person shall be eligible to hold elective office under the mayor-council plan unless the person is a registered voter of the city at the time of filing his or her declaration of candidacy and has been a resident of the city for a period of at least one year next preceding his or her election. Residence and voting within the limits of any territory which has been included in, annexed to, or consolidated with such city is construed to have been residence within the city. A mayor or councilmember shall hold within the city government no other public office or employment except as permitted under the provisions of chapter 42.23 RCW.
Per MRSC: Anyone considering running for elective office should review their voter registration at VoteWA to make sure their residential address and county are correctly listed.
Thank you, Ken, for the complete explanation.
Eck’s opponent, Roger Pence, has been a citizen of Edmonds for almost a decade and has served on the Planning Board before Mayor Nelson gave he and Mike Rosen the boot . Paine and Eck appear to be highly Partisn in viewpoint (based on past actions and the other Keynote speaker for this event) while both their Council opponents appear to be non-partisan. City Council and City Mayor are supposed to be non-partisan positions.
Hi Clint – Would love to have the chance for you to get to know me and for me to hear your priorities and concerns.
Thanks,
Chris
chris@electchriseck.com
Clint- Roger Pence, who has lived here for “almost a decade” and served as chair of the planning board, emailed me FOUR TIMES over 12 hours LAST WEEK complaining about not knowing “who is in charge” at the Edmonds Planning Division. Can you explain to me again about why it matters how long someone has to live somewhere to make them an effective leader and legislator?
I had a question about the City’s upcoming Porchfest event. I sent it to a city “info” email address. Chris Cossu answered my inquiry, and we had a cordial and professional email exchange. I regret that she experienced something different.
Roger-
my pronouns, displayed on all 4 of my replies to you, are they/them.
Hi Chris. My priorities and concerns are an open book. I want to see an end to top down city government with the citizens telling the Council People and Mayor what they want vs. them telling the people what they should want. I want Council Persons getting out in the community doing frequent Town Halls in the neighborhoods to learn how their constituents want them to vote on things. I want tax money being spent on proven Needs first and Tourist and Entertainment business Wants as we can afford them. I don’t want the Democratic or Republican Parties trying to control Edmonds Government with voting blocks. I don’t want Climate Committees, Hate Boards, Tree Boards, and meaningless Fireworks codes that the Police have no intention of enforcing. I don’t want entire Council meetings wasted on meaningless proclamations on National issues. If you really want to meet and talk with me, we’re having a Meet and Greet for Diane Buckshnis, our next Mayor, at my house from 3pm. to 6pm. on Sat. July 22nd. , Northeast corner 8th. and Bell. Free cheap beer and hotdogs while they last. You are welcome to attend.
Agree and also want want to see an end to top down city government with the citizens telling the Council People and Mayor what they want vs. them telling the people what they should want.
That tree ordinance debacle of a few years back cost the city WAY more than they could ever know. An example.
It would be nice if a LOCAL person, A REGULAR (local) person, not a career politician.- would run for Kristi’s position going forward.
Hi Curtis – Would love to hear your perspective on things in person if that works for you. My leadership and operations career is currently in Human Services and my work history is public information –
http://linkedin.com/in/chris-eck-she-her-86864a35
Thank you,
Chris
Major red flag – Political party activist friends running for non-partisan positions with endorsements from well
known fellow party members. (Partisanship trumps all syndrome).
Major red flag – Past city elected officials giving disproportionately large contributions to people they think are the
only ones up to the task of following in their footsteps. (God’s gift to us all syndrome).
Vote wisely!
Ken, thanks for explaining the law, which I’m already well aware of. My question was about the unofficial requirements that I’ve been told about several times by long-time residents. With respect to seeking appointment to city commissions, it seems especially problematic that the trend/unwritten policy is to reject folks who haven’t lived here for X years; without service in those positions, people don’t have the resume to run for elected office.
It’s disheartening to be told, as I was, that I need to wait until I have lived here several more years to even hope to serve my community as a commission member.
Kim,
I’m curious why you would be “disheartened” by these opinions from others, rather than continue to expand your participation in the democratic process in preparation for a run for office.
My involvement in Edmonds politics began in 2004, when I regularly commented at Council meetings related to issues of importance to me. I sought and received appointment to the (no longer existing) Transportation committee and to the Tree Board. By the time I ran for office in 2011, my views on many of the issues that face Edmonds were well known to those who closely followed Edmonds politics. This is one of the reasons that I won election while running against the popular, yet controversial, incumbent.
If you don’t have time to put in the time, you won’t have time to be a Councilmember. If you take seriously representation of your constituents, rather than follow a party line, the work of a Council member approaches a full time job. And the pay sucks.
Ken and I, to a lesser extent, replied to this comment that you made: “How can long should a person live in Edmonds before running for office? Folks always bring this up, so I thought I’d ask. I understand there is no legal requirement” That indicated that you were not well aware of the law.
After I posted my second comment above, one person (not a commenter above but obviously reading this thread and someone who frequently comments on MEN posts) ) googled me and called me at my work number and told me to shut up. Another person (also not a commenter here but following the comments) privately messaged me through social media and lectured me on what they believed was my political party affiliation (they were incorrect) and made disparaging comments about my family (not acceptable). That is not the first time this has happened when I’ve spoken or commented on a public forum. So I will not comment again here.
Kim — that is unfortunate to hear. I would hope others would respect everyone’s right to their own opinion and perspective.
As a followup — I told Kim in an email and wanted to warn others: If I discover that commenters here participate in this type of behavior, you will be permanently banned from future comments. And if anyone experiences what they believe is harassment or threats, it deserves a police report.
Kim:
You should reveal the culprits here.
Kim, I’m so very sorry to hear it.
Everyone on this thread deserves respect and civility, including you. None of these discussions should ever exceed the boundaries of respectful conversation and civil disagreement. All opinions should be heard and are important. There should be no tolerance for insults, intimidation, and harassment.
Good grief, Kim, that is beyond unacceptable and I’m sorry it happened! Please don’t let these miscreants deter you from commenting here, or anywhere; I appreciate your comments, even if I don’t always agree. Also, please let Teresa know the names so she can take appropriate action.
I agree Kim, your voice matters too much for you to leave. Understand if you need some space but hope you stay in the mix!
Chris Cossu, I have no idea who you are or why Roger was calling you or anything about the incident you are talking about here. Maybe you could expand on that a bit. It sounds like he was trying to find someone who had the authority to speak for the department or answer whatever questions he had at the time. Beyond the legal residence requirement, I guess why length of residence matters is, in itself, a matter of opinion. When my choice between two people is someone who has lived here for an extended period of time and has done real volunteer work for the good of the city vs. someone who has lived here a short period of time with no record of service in our town, I’ll go with longevity and experience.
Kim, Please don’t stop commenting here, because if you do, it just means your tormentor has won the day and he/she does not deserve that victory. I may not agree with you much and am sometimes a little too snarky (I’m honestly trying to work on that) but totally respect and defend your right to comment here and have opinions because that is what this publication and the comments feature of it are all about. Your voice is needed as much or more than mine or anyone else around here, so keep speaking out and calling things as you see them. None of us has all the answers right even when we think we do.
I’m so sorry that happened to you, Kim. Your voice matters.
Mr. Ken Reidy, how dare you present actual facts that interfere with people’s impressions, feelings and opinions about unofficial requirements? This is indeed, the “silly season.”
Vote for Diane Buckshnis for Mayor. She isn’t trying to buy the position or claim a bunch of endorsements from people trying to control all things Edmonds for the past 20 plus years.
Vote for Roger Pence for City Council. He’s actually lived here long enough to know what’s going on and has actual Edmonds experience trying to help Edmonds plan for our best future possible.
There is so much written above that concerns me. I have been following comments (and commenting myself) for many years, and have generally speaking found people to be respectful and ethical – of course with some exceptions – even when people said crazy stuff or disagreed with one another. I am also sad to say that Kim’s experience is not an anomaly. Ask me how I know, and in some circumstances, coming from shocking areas that I am restraining myself from describing. So sorry to hear that it has gotten to this point. Everyone having and “Edmonds Kind of Day?” If this is it, I will happily stay far away! Good grief, people.