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Confused about how to vote this election? Take a look at the endorsements listed on candidate websites. They are a good way to see if your own voting preferences align with that candidate. Alex Newman’s can be seen here. Similar to other local candidates, Chris Eck and Chelsea Rudd, he has an impressive lineup of regional and local supporters.
Two of the endorsements in particular demonstrate strong commitment to protecting our treasured environment. The Sierra Club and Washington Conservation Action evaluate candidate’s backgrounds and conduct personal interviews, focused on environmental advocacy. Their endorsements support candidates who want our parklands, streams, wetlands and beaches to be protected as an important part of the quality of life in Edmonds.
Alex’s executive position with the American Red Cross has given him the experience and insight to help run a city with $120 million in expenses. He is wise enough to understand that a $20 million deficit can’t be fixed by accounting tricks and supports yes on proposition 1. Along with the environment, he is a strong supporter of public safety and of planning for coming climate change.
Snohomish County voting records for the 2024 general election show that over 70% of Edmond voters were against I-2117, which would have repealed Washington’s groundbreaking Climate Commitment Act. We are environmentalists.
Let’s elect leaders that reflect our local values, let’s elect Alex Newman.
Pam Tauer is writing on behalf of the following Edmonds residents:
Greg Ferguson, Gayla Shoemake, Lu Loree, Steve Cristol, Georgina Armstrong, David Jones, Marjorie Fields, Cynthia Jones, Kathy Ferguson, Jane Odell
Alex Newman’s experience working with the Red Cross is important to me. The Red Cross works to organize people, stage supplies, and help victims in a disaster. This is a unique skill set and his experience will be invaluable in understanding how to help our city prepare for the future with global heating ramping up the intensity of extreme weather events. He also has extensive budget experience. Since a City is really a service entity, not a business, I think his type of budget experience is more relevant than his opponent’s. Alex Newman will get my vote.
Alex Newman’s Red Cross experience is especially important because the Trump administration is cutting back on help from FEMA. Communities are having to fend for themselves. Here is a New York Times article from today that explains what happened to a small town in Arkansas that was hit by a tornado. FEMA is not helping them. (Gift link) https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/climate/fema-disaster-recovery-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.t08.D5kd.DnroCLm_Tv9n&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
I agree!!! He’s got relevant experience, Multi layered, well prepared. I think he will do right by Edmonds
As Executive Director of the Red Cross for NW Washington, Alex is experienced in managing both people and multimillion dollar budgets. The Red Cross is well known for its fiscal responsibility. It has received Candid/GuideStar’s highest “Platinum Seal of Transparency” rating for its commitment to sharing clear and detailed information about its work. Charity Navigator, the Better Business Bureau and CharityWatch also give the Red Cross their highest rating, citing strong performance in accountability, finance, impact, and leadership. This is the professional environment in which Alex works and it is largely responsible for his strong track record of professional accountability.
In addition to his human and fiscal management experience, Alex’s emergency preparedness and response experience will greatly benefit City staff, Council, and Edmonds residents. Recent news articles about western Washington’s susceptibility to wildfires and our need to better prepare for a potentially devastating earthquake speak to the importance of the “value added” expertise that Alex brings.
Check out Alex’s own words and his impressive list of endorsements on his “Alex for Edmonds” webpage and you’ll see why so many of us are eager to see him elected to Edmonds City Council.
Alex may well be a wonderful person. But when it comes to Actual boots on the ground Emergency/Disaster Management (Response, Mitigation, Recovery) he has less then 5 years limited experience. The American Red Cross is exceptionally good on the local and national level for doing what they do best – Emergency shelter and food. But that is what they are limited to doing as they then work with other, more complex Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters in assisting victims and their families. Anyone can check his LinkedIn profile and candidate website and I encourage them to do so. He has deployed on exactly TWO large scale Disasters and they were within the last 12 months (Palisades LA Fires and Hurricane Helene).
While commendable, they do not confer a magical expertise in Emergency Management as advertised by his ardent supporters. I say this as one who has been active in many different Emergency settings from a Management, Response, Planning, Mitigation and Recovery perspective since the mid 1980’s.
Mr. Chapman, you may have a lot of experience, I don’t know, but I can say one thing, Alex as an Executive Director would not be in that position if he doesn’t have a lot of knowledge and skills that would be very helpful to Edmonds both with the budgeting issues and in understanding how to organize people and get things done. Those two disasters were huge and I am sure he can apply that knowledge to helping Edmonds. I am surprised that you dismiss it. It doesn’t reflect so well on you. And definitely he has more emergency experience than his opponent. I think his experience will be invaluable and why I am choosing him over a small business candidate.
That being said, it appears to be irrelevant to many supporters, as they desire someone like Alex, who will serve as a loyal soldier in their special interest partisan army. First and foremost, this clearly pertains to political tribalism, and thus the rationalizations ensue.
Alex has my vote for all the reasons & experience others have listed. In addition, though i’m not sure if i’m correct, edmonds had an emergency coordinator person who a couple of years ago held an event for any of us in Edmonds interested in earthquake safety and to learn where the emergency siren is located. I believe his name was Chuck because I talked to him a couple of times by phone and he was very responsive. At that event, the only people who showed up were myself, a photographer and Chuck if that is his name. I believe in the budget cuts, he may possibly have been let go.So I don’t know if Edmonds has an emergency response coordinator any longer. In our unique geographic position, we definitely need someone of experience in emergency response. Alex is that person. As I am writing this, in fact, the emergency siren is going off right now because it is the annual shakeout test for earthquakes.
I do not know Mr. Newman. He may be a fine fellow but, some things bother me about his run for Edmonds City Council. First, this is a non partisan position yet Mr. Newman has openly sought and advertised endorsement by Snohomish County Democrats. I am concerned he has a very short history of living in Edmonds. My understanding is he has lived here about two years and has previously moved around to various locations with different postings for his job. I am also concerned about the lack of specifics he has offered on how he would address the long term financial issues confronting Edmonds. He endorses the big property tax increase proposed in the upcoming levy lift election but, says nothing about budget controls or other revenue enhancement he would support. His opponent, Erika Barnett, has lived in Edmonds a long time, raising a family while running a successful business in Edmonds. She is committed to being a non-partisan problem solver for Edmonds. She is the better qualified candidate.
Mr Bucklin: if we restrict our civic leaders to only those who have lived here “a long time” we will be drawing from a very limited pool of people who may have a very insular viewpoint shaped by what has happened in the past and have developed conflicts of interest or alliances that may be resistant to new ideas and ways of doing things. Your point reflects a mindset that doesn’t embrace newcomers. People can be invaluable to Edmonds no matter how long they have been here. It is not an exclusive club.
Also being upfront about political leanings is better than hiding your preferences. And when it comes to these local issues I would say that often times viewpoints cross political divides. The issues are not always clearly left or right so evaluation of someone just on that basis is not as relevant for these local races. I would look at their overall experience and what might make a good addition to the Council, such as Alex Newman’s Red Cross experience.
I totally agree with Mr. Bucklin’s assessment of the two candidates. Ericka Barnett is clearly the better candidate. And we absolutely do not need another partisan council member as partisanship has been a major impediment to getting the right things done in Edmonds for the past several years.
Ms. Williams I suspect that you have lived in Edmonds for only a few years.
@Ron – suspicions aren’t facts so you do not know how long Arlene has lived here. And what difference does that make? How long does it take to be a a true citizen and resident of Edmonds & have opinions that may differ from yours?.One year? Two years? Twenty years? Do tell.
In terms of partisanship, I believe that Alex, as all city council members, will act for the benefit of all Edmonds, residents. However, I glean from your comments that certain residents want no democrats whatsoever, to show their stripes in Edmonds. All kinds of people live here, of every stripe and persuasion. May we all feel that we belong here.
Appreciate your comments Arlene. Also someone once posted here something like this “offices (ie., city council, etc.) are non-partisan, people are not”. I am suspicious when someone hides their political affiliation. The attitude taken towards Alex not having been here long enough is not the first time and I suspect it won’t be the last. And the political divide grows with leaps and bounds so that will be with us for some time to come. I am proud to cast my vote for Alex, having met him and communicated with him several times. His values are ones I share.
Pam first I am a registered Democrat and I have lived in Edmonds for 33 years. I think many here who want city council members who have lived in Edmonds for maybe 5 years or so might have a better understanding of what Edmonds has been through is why. I don’t care how long Arlene has lived here and her opinions are her own and she is free to have them too. We all are. I support many what some would consider Liberal views. I support LGBTQ and Diversity and enjoy all cultures and colors of people here and nationwide. It is a rule an oath taken to be non partisan to hold CC office. In the past those who have watched CC and have seen no willingness to work across the aisle are scared of even higher taxes etc. With the RFA and Levy lifts and then those who might encourage even more taxes its sort of scary for those who can barely afford what we have now. I am sure Alex is a nice fellow. I have been told that he is, but we don’t know him yet in a couple years maybe we will and he can run again I will be voting for Erika Barnett and Glenda this time. Everyone including me respects the Red Cross they are great no doubt.
I can’t figure out why there is so much concern with disasters in Edmonds. A Tsumani will likely not effect the shores here much. The Coast yeah but that is far away. We can’t predict earthquakes here either or volcanos. I think right now we concentrate on our financial situation and get that under control and try to somehow be a half way happy city again a welcoming city. Erika has done much more than just run a business. Look at her experience and how many know and love her in Edmonds. Glenda Hull is a long time person here and her real estate background is long and realtors brokers know a lot about building and housing which is another subject we are all interested in staying well informed about here due to state mandates etc. I welcome all people to my area of Edmonds as I love diversity it is much more interesting than everyone being the same. I’m just choosing Erika and Glenda this time. Are there facts charts? that I don’t know about impending tsunamis, earthquakes or volcanos. Fires are a concern here probably more than the others. IMO.
The biggest concern here for me is flooding. Warmer air holds more water which is why there are flash floods happening from excessive rainfall in short periods of time. We are very susceptible to flooding in Edmonds because of our terrain and all the streams that have been built right up to their banks… and of course landslides happen when excessive rain saturates the soil layers. Fires are a possibility as heat brings more drought, but flood is the biggest peril and it could happen this year or in the near future. These extreme rainfall events happen in all types of regions, dry or wet, whether Vermont, or Texas, or the desert. We need to prepare.
I am most concerned regarding Alex’s accepting and advertising his endorsement by the Snohomish County Democrats. The council seats are supposed to be non-partisan. I believe and the voting records of current and past council members will demonstrate that voting the party line is largely responsible for the financial problems that we currently have. I am also very concerned with his support of the Levy Lid Lift. I had always thought of the Democrats as the party for the “common man”, but the Levy Lid Lift, will be incredibly harmful to many of our lower and many of middle income neighbors.
Arlene I did check sites that are as dependable as possible for weather events and the PNW is predicting a mild low precipitation and little snow for this winter. In Edmonds we seem to have drainage issues. The snow that melted that winter and caused some water was snow and drainage related and it certainly wasn’t a disaster. I don’t recall that the WF Center or beach retail or anything else was affected. Cutting down trees though will cause more flooding in the DT too. We can’t elect CC members because of what might happen! There is an asteroid I think out there with the worlds name on it and that too could take us all out right away. There was some earthquake activity in what the early 2000s a little bit of rumble no damage. But yeah that fault just like the one in MO could wipe out the whole West Coast. Could Be’s. To me building is the best point you make we do not want a repeat of what happened was in in Skagit or Snohomish. Terribly sad but I hope that now building is inspected along with sites and building are retrofitted for earthquakes. If they weren’t CA would be shaking and collapsing all day long. Alex is Redcross regional here in our county he doesn’t have to be on CC.
Debora, I must refute your comment that “The snow that melted that winter and caused some water was snow and drainage related and it certainly wasn’t a disaster. I don’t recall that the WF Center or beach retail or anything else was affected.”
For me, it WAS a disaster! I was one of several people who turned right from Sunset onto Dayton Street and immediately encountered rushing water that not only stalled my car- but it also totaled my engine! Obviously, I would not have made that turn if I had been able to see the surging water, but the road was not cordoned off and my view was blocked by the car in front of me. I sat for 6 hours waiting for a tow truck because there were so many cars disabled in Edmonds and beyond.
I am not sure what sites you found that say environmental disasters are less likely to happen in the future, but that conclusion is not backed by best available science. Check out the UW’s College of the Environment’s “Climate Mapping for a Resilient Washington”: https://cig.uw.edu/resources/analysis-tools/climate-mapping-for-a-resilient-washington/
Extreme precipitation, drought, extreme heat, flooding, sea level rise, and wildfires are all predicted to increase due to climate change. We currently have no one on Council or City staff with emergency management experience. By failing to prepare, we prepare to fail.