ARLINGTON — As of Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 4:42 p.m., the Snohomish County general election results show Arlington Mayor Barbara Tolbert narrowly retaining her seat, while a permanent Emergency Medical Services property tax levy for North County looks likely to pass.
Tolbert ahead, but just barely
In the Arlington mayor’s race, first-term incumbent Barbara Tolbert received 53 percent, or 1,084 votes, while challenger Craig Christianson received 47 percent, or 958 votes.
This close margin gives Christianson plenty of hope, but even if he doesn’t win, he’s been blown away by how much support he’s received, and he appreciates how much he’s learned about the political process and what’s going on in his hometown.
“It’s been an emotional roller-coaster,” Christianson said. “If I don’t win, I don’t know if I’d run again. It wears you out. Then again, I said I wouldn’t run again four years ago.”
Whether he wins or loses, Christianson is eager to help fix Arlington’s problems.
“You’ve got to do something,” he said.
Tolbert did not respond to numerous requests for comment.
Tendering trailing Weiss
In the Arlington City Council races, first-term Position 4 incumbent Randy Tendering received 48 percent, or 946 votes, while challenger Sue Weiss received 51 percent, or 1,004 votes.
Although she’s already received congratulatory texts, Weiss will remain “cautiously optimistic” until the results are certified.
“I hope to work with the council and the mayor to keep taxes down and the budget in check,” said Weiss, who also favors keeping the city’s fire and emergency medical services fully funded and staffed.
Tendering is “not ready to throw in the towel yet,” citing more than 1,000 ballots that have yet to be counted.
Tendering’s greatest dismay was not the possibility of losing his seat on the council, but the low turnout of this election, in which roughly two-thirds of eligible voters didn’t cast a ballot.
“It’s sad to think that many people don’t care who their mayor will be, or how their tax money will be spent,” Tendering said.
Oertle winning by a big margin
Fourth-term Position 5 incumbent Marilyn Oertle received 68 percent, or 1,295 votes, while challenger Natalie Reed received 32 percent, or 603 votes.
After 16 years on the council, this was only the second time Oertle ran against an opponent, the first being when she was originally elected.
However, because Reed’s campaign was non-existent, Oertle often felt like she was running against a ghost.
“It’s hard when your opponent isn’t engaged, or expressing an opinion, or even present,” Oertle said. “It was very perplexing. When you’re not given anything to argue against, it’s challenging.”
Reed has continued not to respond to interview requests.
Hopson with two-thirds of a three-way race
In the open Position 6 race, Mike Hopson received 65 percent, or 1,259 votes, while Jacob Kukuk received 27 percent, or 523 votes. First-term incumbent Austin DeFreece III, who was appointed to the seat a few months ago, ran as a write-in candidate. Write-ins received 8 percent, or 157 votes.
Hopson first ran for a seat on the council two years ago, but he’d begun attending council meetings four years ago.
“I was a relative unknown who got beat pretty handily, but I got my name out there and found some support,” Hopson said. “I’m gratified that the issues I addressed touched a nerve.”
Among Hopson’s top priorities has been a Manufacturing Industrial Center for Arlington and Marysville.
“We need to get that up and running so we’ll have a tax base that can support city services such as fire and police, which are very expensive in a city this size,” Hopson said. “I won’t be a lone wolf on the council, but I won’t be afraid to speak my mind, either.”
Kukuk thanked his supporters for believing that a 26-year-old like him could get elected, and pledged to continue his efforts to “shrink the age gap in our political system.”
DeFreece’s plans for the future are more nebulous. While he isn’t ruling out another council run, he emphasized that such a decision would depend on several factors.
“I’ll be staying aware of the issues,” DeFreece said. “I’ve learned so much already. I hope the right opportunity will come along again.”
Two-thirds of voters favor EMS levy
The North County Regional Fire Authority’s EMS property tax levy, asking voters to authorize a permanent regular levy of 50 cents or less per $1,000 of assessed property value, received 64 percent, or 1,672 “Yes” votes, and 36 percent, or 941 “No” votes.
Fire Chief John Cermak expressed his gratitude to the community.
“Our Emergency Medical Services don’t go unnoticed,” said Cermak, who estimated that EMS makes up as much as 80 percent of North County’s calls. “With this levy, we can continue to save lives.”
