Editor:
Newly retired from owning a business in Edmonds for 38 years, I feel selfish writing about what I want, but darn it, I care deeply about the town I also grew up in.
I met mayoral candidate Mike Rosen during COVID when downtown merchants were extremely divided over Walkable Main Street. We called upon his mediation skills to lead us through a time we didn’t feel heard by each other, or city government. He conducted interviews and fielded a survey. He then facilitated a discussion over Zoom resulting in each of us feeling heard by each other. When finished, he refused payment, saying “I was honored to be a part of your process.”
Rosen is approachable, he listens AND more importantly, he hears. He’s a team builder. He knows how to create a collective vision to protect what we love while addressing the many challenges we face. He is inclusive of ALL Edmonds. Residents will always bring many perspectives, but with Mike Rosen as mayor we will work through them together, with honesty and respect.
He may be the newest to Edmonds politics, but he is easily the most qualified. He’s managed multi-million dollar budgets and supervised hundreds of workers. Fortune 500 companies and government agencies all over our country trust him, and five previous Edmonds mayors back him as do several regional mayors. How refreshing it would be for Edmonds government to operate with competency, trust and openness, and work to serve us, the people, for generations.
Jenny Murphy
Former owner, Sound Styles
Edmonds
Regarding Rosen for Mayor
I was confused by a recent letter which dismissed Mike Rosen’s candidacy for mayor of Edmonds because he had been a businessman. When did that become a bad thing? We have had many successful business people as our mayors in the past, and they have had the necessary background and skills to serve us well. Dave Earling and Gary Haakensen are excellent examples.
I think everyone would agree that an outstanding businessperson in a community is a welcome addition. Their skills include being a good communicator; fair and compassionate, well-organized, a community advocate and a leader. Sure sounds like Mike Rosen to me!
When we pigeonhole people in a narrow definition, we fail to recognize their full personality. Did you know that Mike Rosen is a renowned, award-winning film maker whose documentaries have brought attention to wildlife and conservation efforts around the world?
I am convinced that Mike Rosen has the background, decision-making skills, collaborative and open communicative style that would be welcome in our city.
I urge you to vote Rosen for Mayor.
Well said, Jenny.
Just for clarification, is this the Patrick Moriarty running for SnoCo judge? Or a different person?
I think this is a different Moriarty but I will let Pat confirm.
No relation. And I do not know him.
He is Patrick and I am Patricia.
It is a fairly common Irish name.
I have from inception of candidacy and currently do support Mike in his quest– he IS the best qualified
This walkable Main Street example is exactly the type of compassionate problem solving Edmonds needs. Thank you for sharing it, Jenny Murphy.
Another example would be how Rosen worked with over 150 utilities across four states to figure out a way to convince consumers to purchase washing machines that used less water. He and his team coordinated with utilities, designers, marketing personnel, and consumers to find a win-win solution for everyone.
When we think about problems Edmonds faces, like crime, public transportation, or increased homelessness, Rosen has the skills to coordinate with multiple agencies and work towards a solution. There’s a direct link from his considerable past work experience to politics. At the same time, since he’s never served on city council, that means he’s a fresh voice with no “buried bodies” to overcome, like voting yes for the beach connector.
There is no doubt about Rosen’s qualifications and motives. He is a “leader” as compared to a “manager”. Recently a long-time friend and neighbor saw my Rosen sign in my yard. He asked me about him. Based on what I told him he said he would like a sign. I told him I would take care of it. I called Rosen and told him. He said “tell me a little about your friend” I told him he had cared for his bed-ridden wife for many years, and that she had recently passed and that he was very lonely. Rosen said “sounds like this calls for a personal visit”. I later heard from them both that they had a great visit. This shows the compassion that you don’t always get. Mike Rosen will be a great mayor.
I hadn’t heard of Mike Rosen before, but he certainly sounds like a caring, intelligent, savvy businessman, who also cares about life and the environment. There may be a Rosen check mark on my ballot.
Thank you Jenny..I have heard Mike speak on two different occasions and I believe he is the one for Edmonds.
Posting this comment for Tom Kozaczynski, who is having tech difficulties:
I have met Mike now a couple of times and communicated with him quite a bit virtually. He didn’t know me from a tree in a field before I saw he was running for mayor and having a very, very strong desire to see change in the city personally. Not only did he meet me in person to chat through my issues 1:1 (when he offers that he means it!), he then happened to stop by my house door knocking in Lake Ballinger and spent even more time with me talking and asking for my advice about who he should interact with and where he should go to get a flavor of our neighborhood. It has been clear at every point that he is a listener first and foremost, has the background to run the city (I happen to think bringing private CEO experience would be good for us moving forward), and is genuinely concerned about the best interests of our residents. I am sure I disagree with him on some points, but could I see myself getting a beer with him, hashing things out, and still feeling exactly as I had before about him. I talk about Mike every opportunity I get to make sure that those who willfully pay little attention to local politics can do their research and make an informed vote.
I’ve heard him speak and liked what he had to say. Rather than promise to fix the city’s problems, he put forth a very intelligent and responsible way to look at and deal with them. I was sold.
I posted a comment here around noon that questions some of the logic in the assertion that Mike Rosen is somehow more qualified than Diane Buckshnis to be our next mayor. Not sure what the reason was for moderating me out, but I respect that decision. I talked about specific things Mr. Rosen will have to deal with, if elected, that Ms. Bucksnis has already been dealing with openly and honestly for more than the past decade. I also stated that Mr. Rosen is a very nice and successful man who has an affinity with our past mayors; Haakenson and Earling specifically. I question what that affinity has to do with whether Mike is really ready to be our next mayor aor not. Hope this comment is tepid enough to make the grade.
Clint — as I said to you in an email just now, whatever post you submitted around noon today didn’t make it to me — others were having technical glitches at that time, so who knows. But I didn’t see it and it isn’t pending in drafts either.
Teresa
No problem whatsoever Teresa. Thanks for email and explanation here. Just glad I didn’t say something too obnoxious for prime time.