Clyde Hill News: 2023 candidate statement edition (update #2)
Supplementing the voters’ pamphlet with longer-form statements from candidates
Additional update (September 21): Steve Friedman has updated the start of his statement to clarify that the union representing Clyde Hill’s police officers has endorsed him:
I am honored to have been endorsed by the Union (Teamsters #763) that represents the Clyde Hill Police.
And a reminder of the first correction: Ryan Olson’s statement below now reflects his original text. When I pasted his text into the newsletter, some space characters were stripped, introducing some typographical errors.
This week, something different: statements directly from the candidates running to represent Clyde Hill residents.
King County will send ballots out to Clyde Hill residents soon, along with short statements from candidates in the voters’ pamphlet. (You may have noticed campaign signs in the neighborhood.)
A few readers suggested a “candidate statement edition” of this newsletter in order to
supplement the short statements in the pamphlet, and
provide voters and the community with additional information directly from candidates.
I sent an email to all the candidates about this idea. They agreed and then submitted the statements below. These statements are published “as is” with no fact checking, edits, or additional context provided.
Mayor
Steve Friedman
Council Seat 2
Ashley Eckel
Steve Sinwell
Council Seat 4
Mark Kroese
Ryan Olson
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Disclaimer: while I am a councilmember on the Clyde Hill City Council, I write this newsletter in my capacity as an individual resident. Any opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily the position of the city. City information and references here are from public sources. I welcome email responses — and if the topic is about city business I will respond from my city email account.
Mayor
Steve Friedman
I am honored to have been endorsed by the Union (Teamsters #763) that represents the Clyde Hill Police. Our community benefits every day through their devotion and commitment to protect the safety of every one of us.
I have served as a member of our City Council for nearly four years, and it has been a privilege to work with other Councilmembers and our city staff to uphold our quality of life here in Clyde Hill. I will continue to work for every resident in Clyde Hill as your Mayor. I will always consider the needs of our residents and will work to continue to ensure our safety, protect housing values, put the City in a positive financial direction, preserve a positive staff culture and trust, and ensure an interactive working relationship between staff and our City Council. I will continue to successfully work with our Police Department to support officer satisfaction and to provide them with the tools they need that will allow them to protect our residents.
I will deliver leadership that supports our outstanding staff and allows them to effectively deliver services to our community. As a leader, I will build consensus and utilize the talent and experience of staff, Councilmembers, residents, and our advisors. As a team, we can accomplish so much together.
It is an honor to serve the residents of Clyde Hill.
Council Seat 2
Ashley Eckel
It has been a pleasure serving my neighbors as a city councilmember. I am excited about the opportunity to continue serving the community. My primary goals will continue to be to: 1) maintain our beautiful and safe city by keeping a low crime rate; 2) balance our budget; 3) support responsive government; and 4) work in a positive and professional manner with my council colleagues. My approach is to carefully research all topics before us and follow the goals and objectives of our residents and our city’s Comprehensive Plan.
Balancing our budget is critical for our solvency and ability to provide high-quality city services in the future. Our budget has gone out of control over the last two years. I will work to secure funding for some of our major projects, drawing on my experience with obtaining and managing grant funding, as well as my business experience in the private sector, and seek immediate review of our expenses. Government loves to grow, but I prefer a small, efficient government, with careful utilization of taxpayer dollars. I support the review of all current city fees, staffing, and potential new sources of revenue.
With respect to maintaining our beautiful and safe city, I will work to maintain our low crime rate, while reviewing our police department and its budget. I will ensure the city strives to maintain excellent officers with top-notch pay and benefits, training, and quality equipment. I will expand our community events, and continue to work on the quality of our recreational facilities. I will continue to research our city codes to improve clarity and ensure that our roadway lines-of-site are adequate to protect our children, pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers, while maintaining the beautiful views we have throughout our city. As a current councilmember, I am actively building bridges with our state representatives and elected officials of other cities; I will continue to build these bridges aiming to maintain our predominantly residential neighborhood and our quality of life.
City councilmembers should not be in the business of fighting with our city and pursuing personal agendas.Councilmembers should be representatives of residents and advocates for their priorities, while also being champions of city initiatives. I will continue to respectfully work with my colleagues for the betterment of our community.
My family includes my husband Frank, volunteer of the year at Clyde Hill Elementary for 2022-23, and our two sons, Logan and Oliver, 6 and 7. As a parent and physician-scientist, I use my voice on the council to support efforts to build community, keep our roadways and other transportation options safe, and maintain the beautiful views and landscaping we have throughout our city. I would appreciate your continued support. Please call or write with any questions/concerns, or to just say hi.
Education:
- Barnard College, Columbia University
- MD PhD Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Clinical Pathology (Residency) Hematopathology (Fellowship), University of Washington
- Board Certified Hematopathologist
Occupation:
Senior Research Scientist, Hematologics
Affiliate Assistant Professor, University of Washington
Contact Information
Ashley Eckel MD PhD
(805) 657-2728
Steve Sinwell
During my conversations with Clyde Hill Residents, I’m often asked – how are you different and why should we vote for you?
In addition to my absolute commitment to your safety, here are five key areas to consider:
The right experience, at the right time:
Clyde Hill is running a financial deficit; for the fourth year in a row, our City will be relying on cash reserves to fund operations. The divide between the City’s revenue and operating expenses is projected to get larger and larger over the coming years. As a former Senior Partner & Vice Chair of Deloitte (and a CPA), I’m the only City Council candidate with the background to address and resolve this challenge.
Solver of complex issues & builder of effective teams:
In addition to the financial deficit, Clyde Hill needs to address a series of complex issues, ranging from updating the City Code, navigating new state-imposed zoning mandates, and establishing a Stormwater utility. I will draw from my extensive experience at Deloitte to develop solutions and to foster respectful relationships with all parties interested in outcomes, including the Mayor, City Council, City Administration, Police, Committees and Residents. For example, I will propose steps to elevate the City Code process – we need clarity and consistency, and to significantly reduce the friction Residents feel (and experience) about the Code.
As part of my emphasis on effective teamwork, I aim to become a trusted advisor/mentor to the women and men of our City Administration. While at Deloitte, I took immense pride in mentoring many women professionals to Partner roles at Deloitte and I received valuable mentorship from our female CEOs and Chairs.
City government experience:
I’m bringing with me a wealth of experience from my involvement in city governance in other townships I've called home. My participation spans planning, financial, and advisory committees.
Will invest significant time:
Having recently retired from Deloitte, I'm free from the commitments of a regular job. If elected, I pledge to dedicate significant time collaborating with our upcoming Mayor and City Council to achieve tangible results for our Residents.
Endorsements (thus far):
Building bridges with a diverse array of people is one of my key operating principles. This approach has earned me the endorsement of key figures including Council Members Steve Friedman and Kim Muromoto, the Chair of the Clyde Hill Civil Service Commission, Brian Ouellette; and my primary opponent, Spencer Hamlin. Visit my website www.stevesinwell.com for coming endorsements.
Additional thoughts...
My decision to run for City Council stems from a belief that Clyde Hill could benefit from my financial expertise and business acumen garnered at Deloitte and prior experience in other city administrations. I’m inspired by the remarkable foundation built by Residents, and I'm committed to upholding this heritage.
I’ve been married to Rhonda (she is also a CPA) for about 30 years, and we raised three kids, two recently graduated and one attending college. None of the kids seem interested in becoming a CPA...yet....
Thank you for your consideration!
Council Seat 4
Mark Kroese
I’m honored to be running for City Council Position #4 to serve the residents of Clyde Hill.
I’ve resided in Clyde Hill for more than 25 years. My wife and I raised our children in Clyde Hill and appreciate the quality of life this city has provided for our family. This is a wonderful place to live. I’m running for the City Council because I’d like to ensure that we keep it that way.
Clyde Hill is surrounded by change and unprecedented levels of growth. Looking ahead, we need experienced leaders to navigate the challenges and opportunities that result from this change. I’m aligned with the priorities of incoming mayor Steve Friedman and can work effectively with the other members of the Council. I’m endorsed by council members Dean Hachamovitch and Kim Muromoto, former council member Scott Moore, and members of the Civil Service Commission. Their collective endorsements reflect a belief that I am a strong collaborator who will work well with the Major, the Council, and the residents of this community.
If elected, I’ll focus on the following important issues:
A balanced budget. Clyde Hill is about four years from a budget crisis – the same crisis Medina experienced in 2019. Medina’s response to their budget crisis was to increase property taxes by 5% annually – rather than the standard 1% increase – from 2021 to 2025. Clyde Hill can avoid this crisis, but we must act swiftly. I will focus on closing the budget gap without cutting essential services.
Safety and security. Clyde Hill enjoys an effective and responsive police force. As we work to balance the budget, I’ll advocate maintaining the current level of law enforcement and enhancing security policies as appropriate. Crime rates are rising across much of King County, and we need to stay vigilant on public safety.
New zoning laws. The recently passed housing and land use bills (E2SHB 1110 and EHB 1337) are intended to expand the state’s housing supply through more affordable housing. I’ll focus my energy on minimizing the impacts of these new laws on the city of Clyde Hill.
A more effective City Council. The residents of Clyde Hill have an opportunity to choose a City Council that will decisively address important issues. The role of government is to listen and be responsive to the concerns of the people it serves. If elected, I will help build a more cohesive local government.
I come to this election as a husband, father of two, grandfather of three, and Harvard educated business leader. I draw from 35 years of professional experience spanning big tech, startups, and non-profit boards. I spent the bulk of my career at Microsoft leading global business and technology teams and have solved complex problems, led culturally diverse teams, and balanced budgets from the tens of thousands to the billions. My professional experience has prepared me well for this role.
I respectfully ask for your vote and invite you to learn more at www.mark4clydehill.com. Thank you!
Ryan Olson
I have been a part of this great community since 1976. Born and raised in the area, I went to Bellevue Christian School and The University of Washington. My wife, Angelina, and I raised our three children in Clyde Hill. We love this community, and we are committed to it. As a third-generation commercial real estate businessman in the Seattle area and a commercial real estate broker with over 20 years of experience, I have a unique perspective and understanding of land uses and how to preserve our community's character and values.
I want to preserve the best of our lifestyle and values for future generations, but the City’s budget deficit is a big deal and threatens our future. I am committed to balancing the City budget by prioritizing spending, measuring outcomes, and making the tough choices that have been put off for too long. I will also find solutions to the City’s stormwater issues and protect our views.
While serving on the Clyde Hill Planning Commission for the past three years, it has become clear that we need a change in city hall. Our community needs competent leaders with no personal agenda to address our challenges. We deserve better than we have witnessed at council meetings these past several years. I will strive for respectful, effective communication and open, transparent government.
Our community comprises many talented people with gifts that we can tap into to help solve the issues we face and preserve what is important to us. I am passionate about coming up with well-thought-out solutions by considering all sides. It is important to me to listen to all viewpoints and respectfully discuss ideas because that’s how you can find solutions that aren’t always immediately clear.
I am an optimistic person. I believe that, together, we can get back to enjoying a well-run city that serves its residents with honesty and integrity.
Please check out my website: www.olsonforclydehill.com
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Dean Hachamovitch