Today Edmonds City Council member D.J. Wilson announced his list of endorsements in his bid for the Snohomish County Council. He’s seeking the seat of Mike Cooper, who just left the Council to become the new mayor of Edmonds.
Wilson’s endorsements include State Senators Paul Shinn and Darlene Fairley, South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce President Jean Hales, State Representative candidate Luis Moscoso, Mountlake Terrace Mayor Pro Tem Laura Sonmore, Fire District 1 Commission Chair Jim Kenny and former Lynnwood City Council member Ned Daniels.
He’s also endorsed by Lynnwood City Council member Kimberly Cole, who chose Wilson over her fellow council member Stephanie Wright, who’s also seeking the nomination.
“I’ve worked with DJ closely, both as a Lynnwood City Council member and as Mike Cooper’s aide on the County Council. D.J. has exactly the kind of experience, energy and temperament the County needs right now. I endorse him unequivocally,” Cole said in a statement on Wilson’s website.
Meanwhile, Wright has picked up another endorsement in her race — the Association of Federal, State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
“I am honored and humbled to have the endorsement of AFSCME”, Wright said. “Their support is a strong statement about my qualifications and ability to do the job.”
A third candidate has also entered the race — local activist and Lynnwood Planning Commision member Maria Ambalada.
Are we voting for these candidates or are the political parties choosing them and if the lateer is the case then why oh why do we care who endoreses them?
When a vacancy in a county office occurs it up to the party in power to hold a special naming convention within 10 days of that seat being left open and it up to this county's district's Precinct Committee Officers to meet to nominate and vote three candidates. The top three candidate names are then forwarded onto County Council to be interviewed and the candidate usually with the most PCO votes which are weighted will fill the remaining term of the currently elected offical.
So I repeat, “why do we care”?
We have important Primary Elections taking place and it seems to me that for the “candidates” for the County Council open seat to keep telling us who is supporting them is detracting from the election at hand. We don't vote for them…wait until we have to make that decision and then throw all of your endorsements at us!