Edmonds City Councilmember Will Chen is launching his reelection campaign from 5:30-7 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at Café Louvre, 210 5th Ave. S., in downtown Edmonds.
Chen was first elected to the Edmonds City Council in 2021. “It was an incredible journey of growth, connection and service,” Chen said in a news release announcing the campaign event. “I am proud of what we’ve accomplished during my first term.”
Chen pointed to his work as “the whistleblower who raised awareness of the financial crisis that the city is facing” and added he has “worked tirelessly to streamline financial policies and fund balance reserve policies that aim to guide our city toward long-range financial stability.
“While we’ve made significant progress, there is much more important work to do,” he continued. “I would be honored to have your vote as we continue building a stronger, more vibrant Edmonds together!”
Light appetizers and refreshments will be served. RSVP to will.chen@willchencpa.com or 425-583-9101.
You are one of counsel members that voted on the budget.Got this city broke no thank.
Council Member Chen’s vote on the Landmark purchase also cost our city to lose its $100,000 deposit. Hopefully there will be a better candidate opposing him.
I had high hopes for Mr. Chen, he’s asked some good questions over his time, but he’s part of the Edmonds City Electeds Class of 24′ – 25′, “It’s too hard” club. T-shirts on the way.
Edmond City Council & Mayor, with the exception of CM Dotsch is selling us out to the RFA, they’re unable to make tough, innovative decisions such as an EMS centric emergency services department as recommended by the cities consultant in this 2016 report.
https://myedmondsnews.com/2016/04/report-edmonds-fire-ems-services-can-improve-performance-reduce-costs/
https://edmondscandobetter.org/pdf/Fitch_Executive_Summary_Report.pdf
Best of luck, Will.
Sort of like “Remember the Alamo.” Remember the Landmark! Wambolt, ever thought of coming out of retirement?
Thank you Clinton. I would liked to have served a bunch more years but the voters decided they preferred an active Democrat. I’m now too old. Hopefully some good candidates will come forward and six of the current members will be gone in the next two elections.
Edmonds city council needs people like Will who are the experts in finance, honest and make tough decisions to help the city.
Let’s all re-elect Will !
Will, thank you for your past service to our city and your willingness to step up to run for city council again.
These are very challenging financial times for our city. The knowledge & experience you have gained these past few years as a council member will help guide our city council toward a more stable financial future.
We will continue to have a less than the best city council we could have as long as people continue to vote for a candidate because that candidate, for example, is a fellow Asian, or a fellow party member. Voters should be waiting until they are able to evaluate all of the registered candidates and then vote for the best candidate.
I recall there were 4 votes for the landmark project that resulted in spending $100k on due dilligence. Singling out CM Chen for his vote with the majority, or for his ethnicity or the ethnicity of his supporters is non-sensical. Frankly, All 7 could have voted no, and then reconsidered the issue on it’s merits w/o the $100k committment. There was no need to rush to a vote, but the mayor at the time manipulated the council into a yeah or nay position.
It is highly illogical to say that it doesn’t make sense to hold a single council member accountable for their vote that determines an outcome. Of course the other council members who were part of that vote would also be held accountable when they’re next up for re- election .
Will’s a nice guy and I won’t slit my wrists or anything if he wins again (sorry if that disappoints anyone), but I want to see a much more independent and less partisan person run against him. All I know is if I had an accountant or self-proclaimed budget hawk/financial expert tell me to put $100,000 down on a property no one else is bidding on or even wants apparently and then tells me to just forfeit it, I’d be looking for new talent. And that’s what I’m hoping for – new talent.
Yes, letting the Landmark 99 project linger as long as it did, and so costing an extra $100,000 was not Will Chen’s brightest and best moment. Although he does have some fluency in financial matters, and believe me, that council needs any help it can get. It reminds me of the proverb, “In the country of the blind the one-eyed man is king”.
Will Chen got my vote! So proud to see him represent the Asian community for City of Edmonds. He been the one helping my family’s small business Harvest Wonton Noodle to grow over this past 2 years. I am always grateful and the dedication understands the people’s needs. As well as being apart of the Asian Service Center to raise awareness Asian building meaningful connections along the way. I am excited to see he is running again this 2025!
Will is the one of the best Council members I have ever known! He is very passionate about this role and has done a lot of contribution to the City of Edmonds, esp. the local communities. He is always there when help and support is needed! He is a professional CPA and is a great leader and planner on financial planning and budgeting.
The City needs a member like Will! Please re-elect Will!
Will Chen is one of very few Councilmembers who actually runs a business here in Edmonds. He’s a CPA and his knowledge of finance and the numbers is helping Edmonds recover from the financial mess gifted us by the previous mayor. Will has earned another term on Council.
Will Chen’s business is not in Edmonds, unless he has very recently moved, it is in Esperance.
Roger, how can you say he’s “earned” another term on Council without knowing who a possible opponent might be or what credentials another opponent might have. No one has necessarily “earned” another term on Council. It’s an elected position and the way you “earn” it is to win the election. If you really think Will has “earned” another term, why don’t you run against him because you managed to lose what should have been a slam dunk for a Council position yourself.
I certainly agree he’s a great guy, and a pillar of our community, but I don’t agree he has “earned” a position until he earns it. I’d say he has learned a lot and did whistle blow on our financial emergency, but then contributed to the emergency by throwing away 100K that he could have prevented with a better thought process and a better vote. No wonder we are a nearly bankrupt city when smart people regard throwing away that kind of money just a toe stub. Please, someone, make this a real election contest, and not just a “for he’s a jolly good fellow” ceremony of some sort.
It’s a vote. We hold electeds accountable one at a time. If they’ve made a mistake, maybe they’ve learned. If they make repeated mistakes, then the mistake is ours to vote them back in. What they do or who they are is not relevant. The voting record is the only standard of measure.
Great to see Councilmember Will Chen running for reelection! His dedication to financial transparency and building a stronger Edmonds has made a real difference. Looking forward to seeing the positive impact of his continued leadership.