Pearce and Steik go for open city council position

Gerald Steik Tim Pearce and Gerald (JJ) Steik both hope to steer the city of Stanwood in what they see as the right direction. The two are candidates for city council Position 2 on the Nov. 3 general election ballot, Shelley Klasse’s current seat.

Tim Pearce Pearce, 40, teaches seventh and eighth grade at Grace Academy, a private school in Marysville. During the summer, he works as a dispatcher at Twin City Foods.

As a history teacher, he said he has an appreciation and a desire to preserve the historical aspect of Stanwood.

Pearce said he decided to run for council because he wanted to further his involvement in city decision- making. He started as a city planning commission member several years ago because he decided he wanted to have a voice on issues impacting the city he grew up in.

His experience on the planning commission would aid him as a city council member, he said. He is pleased with some of the work done thus far on development regulations and design standards. During his tenure, the city minimized cul-de-sacs and laid out a street plan for the urban growth area.

Tim Pearce The current economy has given the city leaders an opportunity to step back and assess what type of growth the community wants, Pearce said. In addition, the city needs to determine how to help strengthen the business community.

“We have an opportunity to make sure we stay a self-contained community,” he said.

The city needs to pursue businesses and industries that the citizens want to see in town, Pearce said. It should also protect businesses currently in town.

The city is in the process of discussing whether it should grow to the east, toward I-5, or to the north, Pearce said. The city’s current urban growth area to the north is where Pearce said he thinks the city should expand.

If the city grows to the east and connects to I-5, Pearce said he worries that it will harm downtown businesses and the town will lose its character.

More needs to be done to improve the downtown business community, Pearce said. The area needs to be filled in. The city could offer incentives for building in a flood plain and provide education on what can be done to mitigate flood impacts.

Working out the details on the sign ordinance will be a challenge, Pearce said. The city needs to find a balance between business needs and the city’s appearance.

The city should implement some changes suggested in an already finished economic development plan, he said.

Pearce and his wife, Kathleen, adopted Braxton, age 4, from Taiwan when he was 10-months-old, and are on a waiting list to adopt their second child.

Gerald (JJ) Steik

Steik, 37, a technical computer consultant, grew up on Camano Island, and then served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the early 1990s. He moved to the city five years ago.

Steik said he decided to run for council because he wanted to impact the future direction of Stanwood. He sees a need for more of a focus on enabling local businesses and improving the town’s infrastructure.

For example, a new business that is opening at a former restaurant location had to apply and pay for a permit for a new sign even though they were only changing the existing sign, Steik said. That is an expense a new business shouldn’t have.

Steik said he has creative ideas that he would bring to council, such as using city property next to city hall where a house was demolished earlier this year for a community garden.

Incentives to encourage the beautification of the town would also be wise, he said. It needs to be creative in using the resources it has, such as recruiting volunteers.

The city’s finances will be a challenge. Steik said it is important to explore revenue ideas.

Festivals and farmers’ markets will promote economic growth, Steik said.

Local events such as the Twin City Idlers car show need more city support, Steik said. Such events bring people into businesses and help develop repeat customers.

Growing up in Stanwood, Steik remembers MayFest. It’s something he thinks the city should look into bringing back.

Steik said it is essential that the town needs to embrace and preserve its Scandinavian heritage and work on becoming the “envy of small towns.”

Steik started the Stillaguamish Coffee Company in downtown Stanwood, which closed about two years ago. His experience as a small business owner in town will aid him as a councilman, he said.

Businesses should be able to use their signs as billboards, he said.

However, big box stores and more homes is not what is needed here, Steik said. Instead, the focus should be on bringing people in town.

Steik would like to see a new emphasis on buying local. He is willing to spend a bit more and buy something from a local business.

Steik has two sons, Jay, 17, and Devon, 4.

Staff Reporter Kristi Pihl: 629-8066 ext. 125 or kpihl@scnews.com.