Snohomish County Issues

TRAFFIC

Our current County Council proposes to “solve” our traffic problems by lowering safety and congestion standards on existing county roads to accommodate growth.

Relaxing the rules means a slower 13 mph urban crawl will become the county’s minimum acceptable standard on these roadways, and proposed developments will be able to put even more traffic on them.

Instead of IMPROVING ROADS BEFORE DEVELOPMENT, lowering road standards makes traffic get worse! Who will pay? You! You will pay by waiting in gridlock traffic while roads get more jammed! You will pay out of your pocket to have roads fixed while developers get out of paying for the impacts of growth!

My Opponent - FOLLOW THE MONEY

Not surprisingly, developers have backed this “least cost” approach to accommodate growth by contributing over $230,000* and counting (yes, that is well over two HUNDRED thousand dollars), to my opponents campaign.
*Numbers taken from Public Disclosure Commission website (as of 10/11/05).

GROWTH

Residential growth brings expensive demands for public services. Adding growth on growth without providing adequate roads, schools, parks, police and EMS services to keep pace is not political leadership!

Now is the time to change our County Council! Don’t wait for roads, schools, parks and emergency services to catch up with campaign contributions. Vote Suzanne Smith! I have a track record of requiring IMPROVEMENTS BEFORE DEVELOPMENT.

SCHOOLS, PARKS and BALL FIELDS

The current Council has continued to waive millions of dollars in development impact fees through discounts. Snohomish County has literally lost millions and millions of construction dollars that should have gone towards building new schools and acquiring land because development has been paying only half its share toward these impacts. We simply cannot afford to continue this policy. I intend to work hard to make development pay its full share, while supporting affordable housing.

POLICE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

Accepted Police Standards say that for every 1,000 new people that move into an area, you will need a new police officer and expanded EMS services. I would like to see a fee assigned to new construction that would help pay for things like the new fire-trucks, ambulances, police cars, and office facilities that these new officers will need. This way more of your tax dollars will go for the funding of salaries, meth abatement and other programs, and puts more cops on the streets and more firefighters at the ready.

FARMING:

For the future of Farming in Snohomish County to be successful we need Farmers. If there are no Farmers there are no farms. Without active farms there is no way to revive and bring about a thriving Agriculture industry. To help create a thriving Farm and Agriculture Industry I would propose:

• Farming Apprenticeship programs in schools


• Inspire young future farmers


• Farmer to Farmer mentorship programs


• Connecting new farmers with experienced farmers


• Utilize State Program “Farm to Cafeteria Program”


• Supports local farmers


• Supports good nutrition in our schools

AGRICULTURE CENTER IN ISLAND CROSSING AREA

I would like to see an Agriculture Center in the Island Crossing Area. What that could look like is a Farmers’ Market in a Pike Place Market/Tulip Fields style. Some of the things housed there could be:

Farmers’ Market(s)

Wholesale distribution center

• Cooperative for small, medium and large farmers to sell together


• Venue for retailers to buy local farm products i.e., restaurants, grocery stores, convenient stores etc.

Auction Barn

• Livestock auction


• Implement auction


• Other

Near Rail

• There is the potential in the future, to utilize the rail to distribute produce and other commodities as the industry grows and expands

Tourism

• I believe this concept would be a great boon to tourism in the area

Money to create vision

• Federal and State Agriculture monies, County and Tourism dollars

Farming Forums

• Economic Farming Forums 3 to 4 times per year


• Forums specific individual farming areas within Snohomish Co.


• Focus on market trends and avenues for the Future of Farming

BIOGAS PLANT IN ISLAND CROSSING/ SILVANA AREA

Let’s stop wasting taxpayer dollars to convert Island Crossing farmland into a paved over car lot. Let’s use our resources to expand farming ideas not fill them in.

I would like to see a Biogas plant (like the one in Monroe) in the Island Crossing/Silvana area. This would help area farmers with more efficient and cost-effective waste treatment. It reduces environmental concerns, prevents pollution, but also allows for sustainable energy, compost and nutrient recovery. It transforms a disposal problem into a potential profit center.

HOUSING:

Along with traditional housing, the addition of more types of housing development such as Intentional Communities and Urban Villages. Housing of this nature creates more livable land space, reduces the footprint of the house, puts less asphalt on the land, is more environmentally sensitive and makes housing more affordable. Build up whenever possible. Build within UGA’s.

JOBS

I will work hard to protect local jobs from being outsourced by encouraging the kind of economic development that creates livable wage jobs, and has health care and retirement benefits. I will work to build and keep jobs in Snohomish County.

Endorsements

This is a partial list of endorsements

• US Rep. Rick Larson


• County Executive Aaron Reardon


• Senator Jean Berkey


• Rep. Hans Dunshee


• Rep. John Lovick


• United Brotherhood of Carpenters #562


• Laborers Union #292


• Snohomish County Democrats


• Northwest Snohomish County Democratic Association


• Washington Conservation Voters


• Ross and Helen Kane - Stanwood


• Roger and Anita Hill – Stanwood


• Ray and Jeanie Garrioch – Stanwood


• Liz Newland – Stanwood


• Elmer Johnston – Everett


• Stephen Dean – Stanwood


• Sonia Thompson – Granite Falls


• John Garner – Mt. Vernon


• Dan Lewinski – Stanwood


• Quentin Mitchell – Stanwood


• Dennis Conroy – Camano Island


• Lona Wilbar – La Conner


• Claudia Motland – Stanwood


• Richard Post – Arlington


• Dianne White – Mayor Elect, Stanwood


• Naomi Foote – Stanwood


• Carol Ronken - Stanwood

Suzanne Smith for Snohomish County Council District 1

Thank you to all of our supporters in the Primary! We achieved a total turnout of over 11 thousand Democratic votes, and our campaign drew 63.94% of those voters, so it's on to the General Election against John Koster.

This is a new blog that we'll be expanding into a more active website over the next few days, but here is some basic information about the campaign to get started:

We’ve all witnessed a deterioration in our quality of life lately. Our values are being assaulted by the “GROWTH AT ANY COST” mentality of our current County Council. Focusing on the “QUALITY OF GROWTH, NOT QUANTITY OF GROWTH” will be my priority. Existing residents are enduring over-crowded roads and schools, our police, emergency services and parks/recreation are under-funded. Now our County Council wants to lower the level of these services as a funding solution!

EXPERIENCE

I served on the Marysville City Council from 2000-2004. I have nearly two decades of business experience in Snohomish County. I am Co-Founder of Habitats NW and manage organic farmland, landscapes, wildlife habitat and recreational projects. I volunteer at my daughter’s school, and at union and church activities.

PRIORITIES

Make REAL improvements for our congested roadways; Adequately fund police and emergency services; Increase funding for schools by removing Developer Discounts. I will address: Livable Wage Jobs; Parks & Recreation needs; Farmland Preservation; Affordable Housing; Senior Issues; and Environmental Concerns.

Currently, it is a few that are getting rich from undisciplined growth. I promise to work hard to achieve what is best for all of Snohomish County’s residents, from our kids to our seniors.