Editor:
As many of your readers know, I have been in and around Snohomish County politics for some time, elected to the Snohomish County Council, the Mill Creek City Council, and I have worked with countless elected officials on a wide range of issues.
In that time, few have had the integrity, humility and willingness to put in the work as Strom Peterson. His service in the Washington State Legislature and on the Snohomish County Council are an incredible benefit to the residents of South Snohomish County. Understanding how these two levels of government interact is invaluable to creating good statewide policy and making sure it works for our residents.
Strom has dedicated his life to public service for all the right reasons. I am proud to endorse him for reelection as State Representative, Legislative District 21 and am grateful to work with him.
Sincerely,
Terry Ryan
Former Snohomish County Councilmember
I have voted for Strom for many years because he represents my values well. He worked on getting assualt riffles banned in this state and is focused on the high cost of housing problem.
Rifles*
I have voted for Strom for many years too, but not anymore or for any office. Especially when he has a much more moderate Dem. running against him in the person of Mr. Moon. I do not share Strom’s enthusiasm for state takeover of local zoning. I don’t particularly want to vote Republican Party but will if I have to in the General. There are only two kinds of ideas in my view. Good ones and bad ones.
If black and white thinking works for you: Great!
“Black” and “White” aren’t thinking or ideas; they are just colors, so is “black thinking” bad and “white thinking” good in your view; or is it the other way around? Your comment back at me is nonsense in other words. I would concede that there is subjectivity in the notion of what good ideas are vs. bad ideas but the fact that Strom represents your values doesn’t suggest he could or should represent everyone’s values. That’s why it’s called an election and not an “Appointment” which is the current status of one of his Representative positions. I humbly recommend we vote him out of that one too, when the time comes, even if that somehow offends your value system. It’s all subjective you know, when it comes to politics.
Strom has bought into Inslee’s “Green Initiative” 100%. Results in loss of local zoning, higher density and higher construction costs with the highest gas taxes in the country. No more for me. Moon is the more rational Democrat.
Whatever you mean by “bought into”, but whatever you mean that is good thing for this state, this country and the world. Zoning has nothing to do with higher construction costs. What does is market manipulation to purposely under build housing supply, rig rental prices, or to keep up with demand knowing full well the forecast for population growth years ahead. You should be blaming greedy corporations, corrupt and unregulated markets. Having the highest gas prices is good for several reasons. The main reason we pay so much for gas is corporate greed. Big oil greed and we do almost nothing to regulate their oligopoly. We sell them our land dirt cheap and give tens of billions of dollars in subsidies yet they still gouge gas consumers. If we regulated big oil gas would be at least a $2 cheaper all across the country. You don’t know what rational is because you didn’t back up any of your claims or assertions with evidence, logic or reason. Plus, you have no ethos with me.
Well you have hit every leftist conspiracy theory to try and explain Democrat failures. High gas taxes has nothing to do with big oil. That is a deliberate act of Inslee and the Democrats in the legislature to make our state gas tax more than $1.00 per gallon and helps feed inflation at the pump and for every business dependent on transportation and agriculture. Try facts some time.
Petroleum and Coal product manufacturing is the number 1 regulated industry in the United States. Oil and Gas production. Is number 7. Between the two, there are over 36,000 separate regulations. Energy production is #2 and automobiles are #5. Pharmaceuticals fall right behind oil and gas production. There isn’t much left for folks to regulate. There is, however, plenty of tax and spend scams that the progressive West has leveraged to make the cost of fossil fuels $2.00 more per gallon.
On the rent and housing front, taxing people out of their homes isn’t equitable. Passing laws that the State chooses (to force behavior, in this case, forcing less single family dwellings and providing incentives for density) under the very lazy argument of equity, doesn’t pass muster. Both conservative leaning and progressive leaning lobbyists have done a heck of a job selling the missing middle and affordable housing. The industries (whether they are non-profit affordable housing agencies or Builders groups) get more money, more incentives, and more work when the State chooses how to regulate the housing market. (It’s pure market manipulation via regulation – much like our $5.00 gas). It’s one of the few areas that both sides of the aisle have gladly accepted donations on, but to date, the there’s little to show for it except studies with hard cipherin and stuff.
Just one more salient point, Washington State has over 200k regulations on the books. They rank the 8th highest regulated State, and growing. The regulatory environment in Washington has done little to force success to many of the schemes. Washington State has some of the highest sales tax rates in the Country. Unlike many of the other non-income tax States, Washington has a Gross Teceipts Tax and a Capital Gains tax.
More regulations are not going to fix what ails Washington State (check that, what ails the Western part of the State), data driven, time boxed, and significant statistical goals (legislated requirements to measure or kill government programs) will fix what ails them. Our kids (until recently) get graded on a 100 point scale for tracked and measured results – our elected officials don’t. Our programs don’t. Affordable housing sure sounds swell, but last time I did an extensive search, even the Urban Institute had limited case studies in successful missing middle and Affordable housing.
More regulations are not the answer. Actually applying empirical data and legislated success factors will go a long way to solving the problem by investing in good programs and killing bad ones.
Mercatus can assist you with some clarity in hoping for a more highly regulated State and provide insight on what industries are the most regulated.
Mr. Ryan states: “Strom has dedicated his life to public service for all the right reasons.” He is over 50 years old and only sold his Edmonds business a couple of years ago. One of the right reasons for Strom is that he can have a great income by simultaneously holding two elected positions. The position in the state legislature for which he is now running for re-election requires his total dedication for the first two or three months of each year. That means he has to neglect his $130,000 county council position. Citizens who vote for him are allowing taxpayers to continue being ripped off.
If you want to be persuasive you might want to back up your claims with sources, evidence. Otherwise, what you assert means nothing to me. You have no ethos with me.
Mr. King:
I only deal in facts. Please state which of my comments isn’t factual.
I already did. Plus, it is your claim and you haven’t proven any of them are facts. Nice try
I would posit that Strom Peterson no longer represents Edmonds. He follows an irrational agenda by supporting laws against police pursuit which resulted in an increase in crime and innocents being injured or killed by criminal drivers. He supports banning natural gas which would make a lot of common sense if we had a reliable electricity source to replace it , and a grid that could that could deliver that electricity. Instead, there are real worries about our ability to supply adequate electricity in the very near future which will worsen with the development of more server farms using AI. Soon, their usage will raise from 4% to 9% of our electricity production.
He was a major architect of the bills which take zoning out of the hands of the cities. In Edmonds that will result in heat islands(not very Green), and the changing of CARA rules to allow PFAS(hazardous forever chemicals to infiltrate our southern aquifer ). This all in the name of density.
We need a Representative who represents us, cares for the environment, and demonstrates common sense. That’s why I am supporting Jason Moon(D) in the 21st Legislative District.
Agreed with you Robert Chaffee.
And let’s not forget Peterson’s strong opposition to our city’s camping ban ordinance in public parks and public spaces. He explicitly went before our City Council to voice his opposition. He’s done enough harm already across many topics and will continue to do more. Time to vote him out. I’m voting for Jason Moon.
I like Jason Moon – let’s have some fresh and hopefully more successful ideas than buying a hotel for the homeless that after a year, is still uninhabitable due to contamination Strom was an advocate for purchasing the no barrier hotel. Oh well, it’s only money!
Strom must go. He doesn’t represent families in Edmonds. I just checked with friends in three different states…OK, WI and Iowa. They are paying $3.19 for a gallon of gas. We are paying $4.29 per gallon in Snohomish County. We are paying $1 more because our governor and legislature never met a tax they didn’t like and they promise improved infrastructure and highway repairs that don’t happen. It’s not big greedy oil companies setting these prices. Please vote for a more moderate and common sense candidate. That is Jason Moon.
Mmmm . . . . . . This LTE seems to have morphed into a pretty effective free campaign ad for Jason Moon.
Regulations and scallops are “good” if they fulfill their purpose. Do they accomplish the reason for which they exist? Do the scallops taste delicious? Do the regulations order events in the manner for which they were enacted.
From my point of view, a state as diverse as Washington needs regulations. 2000, 20,000 or 200,000: however many are needed to regulate “effectively”. Ah! What does that mean? Does each regulation accomplish its purpose? This is what I expect the government to evaluate regularly. Since our government is a human institution, as are religions and corporations, I don’t expect perfection, just accountability.
Perhaps some regulations over the petroleum, automobile and pharmaceutical industries are “ineffective”. Given the degree of harm they have done in the past (ex: Exxon Valdez spill, Ford Explorer rollovers, Thalidomide babies) regulation makes sense. How much? What do I know. I am no expert.
Ah, the joy of voting! It is easy to vote for a winner. We have too many sore losers!
I don’t disagree with regulations, and, to your point, believe effective regulations have a positive effect on the public. I do disagree with “good” versus “bad”. Effective vs. Ineffective is how I would view it. For instance, Washington State and private non-profits pour endless money into homelessness and addiction. So much in fact, it appears we have become the tourist destination for drug living. Cheap drugs, subsidized everything, and increasing tax burdens to increase services in the illicit drug industry.. These regulations have become ineffective. With that being said, Washington State does a piss poor job of adding accountability to their regulatory environment. Most State, Local and County agencies are impossible to get updated regular results and performance. Check out a few of the Committee websites and let me know the most recent performance KPI’s are posted. Read the charters and missions of these Agencies and let me know where the concrete measurable results are. I am not sure what you’re getting at with the sore losers comment, I use a simple tool to measure a win vs. a loss. Are my family, my community, my County, my State, and our Country in a better position, holistically, then I measure. For the first 4, the problems and issues have increased, and that’s not winning or measurable improvement, but I guess the winners don’t need accountability.
I vote for Strom because he represents my values, not because he has won.
Trust me, voting isn’t easy for me. I try to stay informed with unbiased sources and think critically about the source, claims or assertions. I care about the truth and equal rights for all humans.
As for purpose, as I’m sure you know, is to not let monopolies, duopolies, oligopolies harm consumers and competition. Or that is the purpose of antitrust laws that haven’t been enforced, for the most part, since the AT&T break up or since 1980. Glass-Steagall was repealed (in 1998 by Clinton and a Republican Congress) and about 9 years later greedy, unethical, fraudulent commercial and investment banks caused a great recession and we had a stock market collapse we hadn’t seen since 1929. I like including facts in my conclusions as you can see. Exactly why Glass-Steagall was created in 1933. Clearly, the problem isn’t good or bad regulation, but neither, lack of regulation of corporate greed which has been harming consumers for decades. Scallops are the least of my concerns.
I don’t get the loser comment, but remember, everyone likes to blame those evil corporations and big mean old conservatives for everything bad. I dont know one person who complains when they get a pay raise, am incentive bonus, or their 401k increases. For the past 30.or so years, for anything to happen, laws had to be passed by both parties, effectively putting us on executive order dictatorships.
It was the tech industry that abused H1B programs and created indentured servitude. They lean widely left. It was progressive politicians who created the prison industrial complex. I don’t see Soros complaining about how bad he has it when he makes money no matter which way interest rates and inflation go. It works for both sides.
I am not sure what Strom’s values are. I hear a lot about equity and helping, but that comes at a.very high cost. What bothers me the most is the Central Government approach to legislating and eroding rights.
The Republicans did it (Essentially creating the Presidential power expansion we.live in now) the Democrats do it, it’s just labeling it pink or light blue.
I am going to vote for the candidate that provides the highest degree of local government control. Olympia could give two shots about how Edmonds looks in 20 years. I am not sure who that really is yet.
Double Dipper from taxpayer honeypot Peterson…
…just sayin’
Greg,
You don’t know what you’re missin’. Scallops are the best!
Lol. I’m not seafood fan for the most part. The smell turns me off. I do love fresh salmon, though, especially on the barbie (no I’m not Aussie) I just like that term.
I am voting for Jason Moon. I would like to try this moderate man who has been active politically in our county for a long time. In Mukilteo. I agree with everything everyone is saying here who are NOT supporting Strom Peterson. I did like his cheese store. It was very expensive his products but they were quite good. Certainly nothing the pop that Pederson say he wants to help would or could afford. And yes I too have spoken to people I know in several other states not on the west coast and gas is around 3 bucks a gallon. Thursday I went to Northgate and then back home on 99. I saw as I was curious 3 gas stations in Snohomish county on 99 that were over 5 dollars a gallon. The signs don’t lie. I believe Strom has hurt our county with his stance so far to the extreme on the L. I do think corps could settle down and ya know ya shouldn’t have sold. People in the market choose to be in the market and those who didn’t sell out of fear are very happy they didn’t. No sore loser here I voted for Strom but never again! I see documented facts in these comments of the state of WA. It is not good. We need Change. Responsible Change.
Clearly Jason Moon it is for me also. That Peterson’s grandstanding behavior while deliberately sinking WA’s quality of life with his self-serving policies and legislation have no place in a civilized society.
Furthermore the article’s 1984’s “newspeak” redefines the meaning of the word benefits. Or it probably meant “benefits himself and his minions”.
Fans of Strom Peterson should realize he will still hold his full-time year-round day job on the County Council. Elect Jason Moon to the Legislature and get two people working for Edmonds citizens; double-dipping is so unnecessary (nobody can be in two places at the same time anyway!)
Yeah that doesn’t fly with me either Roger. Stom will eventually have to be reelected to the Snohomish on the county council. As people start to see improvements with more moderate leadership for all we will in this state have much change in our legislators. I hope we see a real trend in moderate thinking Dems and Republicans. This state has a lot of possibilities as do all states that have water, oceans, so far not nearly as bad as the sever heat, the crazy storms and hurricanes. This state friends will bring in wealthy people who want pretty nice digs. Our state does care about the environment and most of us do what we can at the time to afford to support some of the legislation. But when as Olympia has we put all our eggs into 2 baskets that are now going to be empy since our state is broke it says anyway. Failed ideals. Ok so ya failed just try it a different way and see if that makes a difference. It could but we will never know if we could have saved ourselves unless we try. CA is a mess. Everyone knows this. Only the very wealthy the starts the glitz are doing well. We can’t let this happen to WA. It would be so tragic for our people, wildlife.
Would Jason Moon relinquish his other elected office?
Hello Sam! Yes, I would relinquish my seat for Mukilteo City Council as it would align with the principle that one person should not hold more than one elected office.
You can’t run a country without the stock market. The stock market is a worldwide gig. It is up to individuals to choose if they want to participate to try and increase their income, retirement accounts etc. Yes I do think that corps could pay a bit more than they do in taxes but not to the extremes that some would like to see. Prices will go up. All that will do is decrease jobs and the fat cats will always get their money. I am not a Socialist I believe in plain old Democracy. I think it is my responsibility to assure that our country remains as it is a plain old Democracy. I believe as we have seen many times around the world that Socialist governments may do well a few years after a coo until they don’t and then well here comes communism. I am not a communist either so the younger generation needs to learn that you can have your cake and eat it too but not if we destroy our Democratic form of gov. If we do much or all of what you want, your freedoms, your right to be what you want to be will be gone. You will work for the machine and it will be slim pickens. History shows us this time and time again. Read.
If Strom Peterson needs a second income, in addition to his full time year round position on the Snohomish County Council, perhaps he should look into the private sector and allay the concerns of so many voters in Legislative District 21 who think it’s wrong for a public servant to collect salaries from 2 different public entities at the same time, which is not even legal, or allowed, in many states, for obvious reasons.
Sue, in which “many” states is “double dipping” illegal? Although it doesn’t matter because it is not illegal in Washington. Should it be? Now there is a timely question!
Would those opposed to double dipping by Rep Peterson be more timid about the issue if it was a different person? Personality and political policy matter. Are there other politicians in Washington who are holding more than one position in government? How often has it happened in the past? Peterson chairs four committees in the legislature and is a member of two others. Is he delinquent in performing his duties for the state or county? The only complaints I have heard here are about his positions on policy.
The voters will settle the issue. Hope there aren’t a bunch of sore losers among them.
There is a very informative article from back on Sept. 7, 2015, in the Tacoma News Tribune, titled “Most States Ban Lawmakers From Holding Two Offices, But not Washington,” that pretty much sums it up. The list of states that forbid anyone from holding more than 1 elected or apointed office = 26 and I believe you can find that list within the news article referenced.
My answer to would it matter if it were another elected politician in our state or county or even locally. To me yes it would matter. Double dipping does give that politician more information in both positions. Information that should not affect their vote in their local positions. I can think of 3 right off the bat that are doing the same thing and I believe getting paid for both of those positions. To me there should be a law against this double dipping everywhere. Of course I also believe in Term Limits for everyone ha. With Strom I think here it is a lot about policies and many feel he could have tried to get the Gov to understand that infrastructure, topography, the fact we are right on the Puget sound and we are trying to save Salmon here in our creeks should be important for the environment. Also, more time to study and find the best spots for housing all over the state even in communities with less population. That in my opinion would eventually add commerce to rural areas and smaller areas and then maybe the housing would have been truly affordable. Not everyone wants to live in overcrowded areas. Some might prefer smaller schools for public education too. Edmonds never has and still doesn’t look like Ballard at least not yet.
Edmonds is well on it’s way to becoming the next Ballard and West Seattle and with the weak on local management control folks we have in charge and pulling the strings now, it soon will be. Drive up Bell Street Hill from 7th. to 8th. and see the house that was permitted and is getting built after they hauled away most of the bottom of the hillside and replaced it with a crappy wood and steal beam retaining wall that will eventually rot away and then dumped tons of concrete foundation work. It will be a two or three story house on a view point lot with no yard, built set back to set back. Now 8th. Street in front of our house is showing more cracks and a sink hole starting – I don’t know if this is related to trucking away a big portion of the hillside but I think it might be an arguable point.
Frankly, I wish our leaders would just start assuring us the basics in town services and quit “saving Edmonds” by allowing housing like this and over development elsewhere that may well pollute a drinking water source being used right now by our own citizens. Yes I’m a pessimist, a town crank. and a divisive person in some people’s view. I own those” faults.”
No matter your opinion on holding two legislative positions, one local and one in Olympia at the same time, one can check and discover at least one other County Council member doing the exact same thing.
Thanks, Sue. That reference to a nearly 9 year old article is very interesting. With some further study one might find out if any information in the article was accurate then and is correct now.
Just found this link from the National Conference of State Legislatures, if it’s helpful:https://www.ncsl.org/ethics/dual-office-holding-restrictions
Teresa
Now that source seems to lay out the double dipping issue! Be careful. When I searched NCSL at first I got the National Capitol Soccer League! Thanks, Teresa
Thanks, Sam. Now we know the position of Jason Moon on dual-office holding.