The Arlington Times and The Marysville Globe newspapers sent candidates five questions to each of candidates running for the Snohomish County Council.

Candidates were asked to respond to the questions in 100 words or less.

Ellen Hiatt Watson (D-Stanwood) will be challenging incumbent John Koster (R-Arlington) for the Snohomish County Council District No. 1 position.

*What makes you the best candidate for the Snohomish County Council?

Hiatt Watson: I have the leadership skills, communications ability, focus and determination that Snohomish County needs to handle tremendous challenges. I have taken an active and successful role toward eliminating poor development methods and positively shaping workable ones. I believe that we must plan more wisely for growth, as ill-planned growth impacts our transportation infrastructure, environment, schools, and quality of life. My demonstrated ability to work with stakeholders and create productive relationships with our political leadership and others is evidenced by my many hard-earned endorsements, and will help us build a better county together.

Koster: Experience and relationships. I have private sector business experience with 25 years as a dairy farmer in Snohomish County. I served three terms as a State Representative and now I am running for my third term on the County Council. If the voters re-elect me in November, I won’t need “on-the job training” because I have been doing this job for the past eight years. This experience is invaluable given the difficult budget decisions that will need to be made in these tough economic times.

Relationships are important as County government interacts with State and other local governments. I have maintained my relationships with many legislators in Olympia and I understand how the process works there. I have working relationships with the Mayors and many of the City Council members in my County Council District. Other county elected officials from around Washington State have thought enough of me to elect me to the Executive Committee of the Washington State Association of Counties.

*How would county budgetary concerns affect your decisions within the council should you be elected?

Hiatt Watson: The County Council’s primary task is to keep the finances of our government solvent with an eye to future as well as present security. This fiduciary responsibility cannot be taken too seriously, as the services the county provides and the economy of our county are dependent upon this stability. There are, of course, many demands for these limited dollars and the answer is not to increase our taxes, but rather to work more efficiently with what we have and balance the demands by including the public in the process of determining priorities.

Koster: My first priority is make sure law enforcement is adequately funded. We must also maintain our existing infrastructure such as roads, bridges, etc. After that, each department and program needs to be looked at on an individual basis. The goal is to make sure we can provide the level of county services voters want while still living within the budgetary constraints imposed by our recessionary economy.

*Moving forward, how do you envision the county council having an influence on economic development?

Hiatt Watson: The County needs to actively influence economic development. We need to nurture small businesses while ensuring base industries such as aerospace and construction have the tools they need to succeed here. The Green Energy trend, such as solar and biofuel businesses, has potential. We cannot ignore our tremendous resources of transportation infrastructure, waterways and airports. We must capitalize on these resources and look seriously at other opportunities. The potential of a county-wide port district is worth discussing, as such an entity can create public-private partnerships and engage in property development, capitalizing on our existing resources in ways the county cannot.

Koster: One of the things the county can do to promote economic development is to ensure taxes and regulations are kept at a reasonable level. When businesses have the freedom to compete without being burdened by high taxes and excessive regulations, they will be able to innovate, prosper and create jobs for our citizens. With this increased job growth and development comes the expansion of our tax base which is necessary to fund government services. I’m proud to say, during my eight years on the County Council we have not on raised the general fund portion of the property tax. In fact, one year, we lowered it by 1%! I’ve taken the no new taxes pledge.

*How do you prioritize county projects paid for by tax-payer funds during an economic recession?

Hiatt Watson: The County’s first priority is safety. As a state-mandated provider of regional services to the rural area, the ability of the county to protect its citizens is paramount. In tough economic times, crime goes up. Our response to that crime and our crime prevention ability cannot decline in tandem with a rise on crime. Secondly, we must maintain a viable transportation network, and keep our economy, its workers and its goods, moving. Our community’s health cannot be ignored. The ability of the health district to function in a way that prevents disease and contributes to our welfare is critical.

Koster: I try to look at which projects will have the greatest impact for the greatest number of people. Obviously, transportation projects rank high on the priority list. We need to do what we can to ensure our citizens can get to and from their jobs and other destinations in a reasonable amount of time.

*If you are elected, what is your No. 1 priority on the council?

Hiatt Watson: We must Protect Our Quality of Life. This could be about how bad traffic is between home and work; the quantity and quality of jobs in our community; if there are trees in our neighborhood or sidewalks for our children to walk to school. In the process of balancing the competing interests that impact all the elements that make up our quality of life, we must be certain that our process is equitable, and that citizens have a say in how these are balanced. Equity. Fairness. Integrity. That’s how we build a better county together.

Koster: Public safety is my number one priority. I believe the primary job of government is to ensure our individual rights and liberties are protected from those who would infringe on these rights. I’m proud to have the endorsement of the Snohomish County Sheriff Deputies Association. These are the people who are out in the “trenches” everyday chasing down bad guys to ensure we can enjoy the safety and tranquility of our homes.

Our course we must do all we can to strengthen our economy to ensure that business can thrive and the consequent job creation so that we have the tax base required to properly fund public safety and other essential government services.