Mayoral candidates offer plain talk about the issues

Mayor Dianne White Stanwood voters will be asked to choose their mayor during the general election in November. Mayor Dianne White faces Councilman Tim Loney in her bid for reelection. What follows are responses to the same questions asked of both contenders.

Q.) Why are you running for mayor? A.) City councilman and mayoral race challenger Tim Loney said he is a firm believer in the political process and giving voters a choice.

"When candidates have an opponent, they must clarify their platform and discuss what they believe to be the key issues for the voters," said Loney. "Competition also forces candidates to listen more intently to the voice of the community."

A.) Incumbent Mayor Dianne White said she is running for reelection to finish what she started.

"When I was elected, the city of Stanwood's administration and staff hadn't changed much in years," said White. "There wasn't a lot of reason to change. But as I arrived, I could see that city hall needed some new ideas and efficiencies."

Tim Loney White said she now has a professional management team and very qualified support employees poised to respond quickly and accurately as the economy rebounds.

Q.) What are your priorities regarding the city? A.) "The long-term possibilities for this great town will rely on strong businesses," said Loney. "Improving Stanwood's reputation for supporting the business community will attract and retain the right balance of businesses to provide a sustainable economy and protect the quality of life that draws citizens to Stanwood."

A strong business community will provide the foundation for Stanwood to finance and maintain improved parks, bike and walking trails and safety lanes, river access, and agricultural tourism and educational resources, he said.

A.) "My priority is family wage job creation," said White. "If people can work here, they will spend their money here."

White pointed to her campaign to bring a four-year educational institution to Stanwood as an example of the kind of employment-creating industries she hopes to attract.

"That was all about job creation," she said.

Q.) What experience qualifies you to be mayor? A.) "That's a wordy way of saying I know how to plan for the future," said Loney. "As a naval officer and a Department of Defense civilian employee, I've applied that degree by developing a vision and building the necessary private/public partnerships for successful implementation."

Loney recently received a master's degree in national security and strategic studies, which focused on enterprise strategic planning.

A.) White said civic experience and knowledge was the reason she ran four years ago.

"I was elected to the Spokane County Board of Freeholders in the early '90s," said White. "I participated in writing a city/ county charter."

White said the process of writing the charter was a 30-month civics lesson.

"During my first term this keen understanding of the role of government has been invaluable," she said.

Q.) What are some strategies for dealing with leaner budgets and promoting prosperity in Stanwood?

A.) "Stanwood is in relatively good shape financially, unlike some of our sister cities in our region," said Loney. "The municipal budget process for the future must be about sustainable income sources."

Loney said Stanwood has the quality of life to attract businesses.

"The next steps are to enhance the start-up business process, provide consultation resources, listen closely to existing business owners, and ensure that policies appropriately support business retention, while improving the quality of life for Stanwood residents."

A.) White said coming up against a difficult budget is something her administration has tackled before.

"I had to deal with a constrained budget for 2009," said White. "You will notice that Stanwood does not have a deficit, we are not furloughing or laying off employees, by smart budgeting, our revenues are slightly above projected."

White said her budgets have, and will, keep Stanwood in the black and progressing.

Q.) What are your plans for Stanwood's future?

A.) Loney said he believes Stanwood will build on what is already great.

"In five years, I hope we will have developed the beginnings of an agricultural tourism industry, based in part on the access provided by the Stanwood Train Station," said Loney. "It is my vision that we will have completed the move into our new city hall/police station complex and developed the riverfront into an attractive park with kayak access and a river trail."

Loney said he would also like to see bicycle and pedestrian-safe corridors along most of the main roads throughout Stanwood.

"It's a large vision, but I have listened to the commitment and energy that is available among Stanwood and area residents," he said.

A.) White said she hopes the city will have a technical school or a university branch campus within the next five years.

"It will have stronger existing businesses and new businesses serving the new citizens moving to our city," said White. "I see our housing inventory responding to the need for affordable units."

White said she hopes to attract young families who will be able to afford to live here and send their children to Stanwood-Camano School District.

"The farming legacy will be prospering as more people understand that eating locally is not only economically sound, but also yummy," said White. "Stanwood is my home town. I am proud of it and want all its citizens to have that same feeling of pride."

Reporter Rick Wood: 629-8066 ext. 104 or rwood@scnews.com.