Everett District 5 challengers differ on solving city issues
Everett District 5’s challengers differ in solving city problems
Demi Chatters, Kelly Fox and Ben Zarlingo are running for Council District 5. Pictured from left to right are Chatters and Fox; the stands will post Zarlingo’s picture as soon as it becomes available.
EVERETT – Three people want to represent the residents of Borough 5 in southeast Everett.
They are Demi Chatters, Kelly M. Fox and Ben Zarlingo. All of them are running for their first candidacy for the city council.
The borough consists of the southern two-thirds of the Pinehurst-Beverly Park neighborhood, much of the Twin Creeks and Cascade View neighborhoods, and the entire Silver Lake neighborhood.
Chatters, 45, lives in the Pinehurst-Beverly Park neighborhood and has lived in her neighborhood for 14 years. Chatters is currently a self-employed entrepreneur and has worked in real estate and property management.
Fox, 44, lives in the Silver Lake neighborhood. Fox is currently the Executive Director of Snohomish County EMS, a nonprofit that provides patient care training and certification to fire departments and ambulance companies.
Zarlingo, 63, lives in the Silver Lake neighborhood. Zarlingo has lived there for 30 years and is active in his neighborhood association. He is retired from a career in electronics and digital communication technology development.
The district format is new to Everett this year; five of the seven council seats are elected locally. Only voters within the district will decide who will advance in the August 3 primary and who will win the seat in November.
The ballot papers are due by August 3rd.
The Tribune asked five questions each and reprinted their answers.
Q) What are the main reasons you are running for city council?
Chatter: My focus was generally on advanced solutions from business and industry. When I was first approached about running for this elected office, I asked myself the same question. Ultimately, I ran because my professional, educational, and social background, along with the lived experience of being a normal working mother, homeowner, and long-time parishioner, means I have the right tools and perspectives to work centered around the needs of families at the decision table.
Fox: I’m running for office because I have the skills and abilities to do a good job on behalf of the people of Everett. I’m a strong leader, and Everett needs governance on some very complex issues. I am ready to address the budget deficit, recovery from Covid and local / regional transit needs in Everett. I also want to increase representation on the council and serve as the first openly queer member of Everett City Council.
Zarlingo: I have been closely involved with neighborhood issues since 1991 and have interacted with the Council many times as it has struggled with budget deficits, homelessness and the pressures of rapid development. At least 3 of the 5 district councilors will be absent next year and I am concerned about the loss of knowledge and momentum. I feel I have the background and judgment needed, and I have been supported by three current council members because they believe I am the best candidate to help Everett along the path to workable, responsible solutions hold.
Q) What special things do voters in your district ask you to do for them if they are elected?
Chatter: Community members tell me that they are looking for an attorney for issues that affect ordinary people including: helping workers, businesses, good jobs, and career paths other than college degrees; Business development Everett Mall; Affordability and availability of housing for families and seniors; Help for unoccupied residents; public transport and road improvements; Municipal green space options; and maintaining reliable response times from the police and fire brigade. My priorities have been developed around community conversations, and I continue to listen.
Fox: The voters are happy about the increasing representation in the council. They want diversity in their government officials. Many voters worry about the economy, Covid and the recovery of our city and nation. There are many closed companies and a mismatch between job vacancies and job seekers. I also heard that a lot of people wanted the Silverlake hiking trail to be completed.
Zarlingo: Voters want a city to provide a solid foundation on which to build for the rest of their lives. They are concerned about crime, the development impact, transport, housing costs, homelessness, fair taxes and efficient government spending. Sound Transit taxes on property and vehicles are a sore point as many taxpayers are concerned that they are now getting minimal tax benefits and may not see light rail reaching this area in their working lives.
Q) In a council vote that could be held in the next four years, would you agree to ask voters to merge Everett Transit with Community Transit? Why yes or no?
Chatter: Residents understand that they need better service that will keep pace with our growing population, with additional routes, a wider range of services per day, and improved frequencies at both peak and off-peak times and days. The effects on seniors and people with disabilities as well as on the staff of the transport service are also important. I would appreciate sending voters a comprehensive proposal for optimized and integrated services so that they can give direction in solving our structural budgetary challenges.
Fox: I would approve of asking voters to merge. I believe this is the only way to adequately expand services and counter Everett’s population growth. It will improve public transport access for the largest number of residents and improve services across the county. Increased bus routes, reduced walking times and extended opening times are all things that would result from this merger. The merger would lead to a sales tax increase and, in return, we would drastically improve the services.
Zarlingo: The merger isn’t a painless way to improve service or solve the budget problem, and it could increase overall sales tax. High sales taxes can discourage businesses from settling or staying here, and the resulting tax penalties could exacerbate budgetary problems. In addition, sales taxes for Everett residents with lower incomes fall proportionally more.
I do not promise a vote now and am generally more cautious with significant sales tax increases than with other tax and fee income.
F) City officials have explored three approaches to solving Everett’s negative cash flow problem. They are: addressing voters to enact a public tax on parking services, addressing voters for an increase in property tax, and addressing voters to separate the Everett Fire Department from the city budget and convert it into a regional fire department (a fire department would be theirs own taxes to finance yourself.) Would you vote ‘yes’ in the Council to proceed with any of these three procedures?
Chatter: I would vote for all of these proposals to be put before the electorate. As a city council member, I would also be committed to liaising with the community to provide information and communication about the proposals, as well as the implications and implications of the vote. Transparency in government is a core value for me, and I hear from community members that they share that value.
Fox: I would vote for the Everett Fire Department to be a regional fire department. I have participated in regionalization efforts in the district and have seen their success firsthand.
I would support an increase in property tax. We need to address the structural budget deficit that Everett has faced for decades.
For parks, I would support other efforts, from working with private organizations to renting parking spaces to meet funding needs before a public tax is introduced.
Zarlingo: The city’s tax advisory committee recommended 24 measures including this one, and details are critical to a smart vote. Example: There are several ways to separate Fire from the city budget, with different taxes and local controls. Proposals are likely to raise some taxes and postpone others – the public should be informed and get involved.
Everett only receives a quarter of your property taxes, and that portion is growing at a much slower rate than the cost, resulting in cuts in city services. We should consider raising property taxes, the first in many years.
F) The current city council has voted 5-2 to create a “no sit-no lie” zone that complies with the Pallet Shelter program. Should the city keep this zone, add additional zones or delete it entirely?
Chatters: Residents across the city are facing the effects of the abandoned crisis, from camps to trash and rubble and worse. The selection of areas for special “no sit-no-lie” zones just sums up the problem. We have to respect the whole community. Erase those zones and let’s invest in solutions that address the underlying causes of homelessness such as addiction, mental health issues and domestic violence, while increasing options for emergency, transitional, supportive and permanent housing.
Fox: The city should paint them completely. The regulation penalizes those who do not have the resources to make other decisions. It criminalizes and discriminates against the homeless. It also adds to the workload of our police and court officials and does nothing to address the problem. We need to allocate funds to constructive alternatives that will make a difference, such as the Housing First model, which has been shown to be successful in reducing homelessness and making huge cost savings for communities.
Zarlingo: The council focused on one problem area and partnered with an outside agency and a home builder to test a two-part solution. The no sit-no-lie measure includes services, distraction, and enforcement. It is designed to address the problems of the homeless as well as other citizens and businesses. This approach should be given a chance to work. Recognition should be given to the council for seriously addressing the issues and for taking action towards a combined approach that includes all Everett residents.
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