In Their Own Words: Meet City Council Candidate Darlene Stern

What is your full, legal name?

Darlene Lorena Stern

Where do you work and what is your job title?

Chicago Title Insurance, Escrow Practitioner, LPO (Retiring at end of this year)

When and where were you born?

Chicago, Illinois 1946

Where do you live now and  how long have you lived there?

Lived in Edmonds since November. 2001

Spouse or domestic partner if any:

Married 43 years to David Stern, former Police Chief of Edmonds, deceased April 25th, 2007

Children:
Two children. Son, wife and children live in Washington;

Daughter, husband and two children live in California

Education (include graduation date(s), if any):

Rich Township High School, Olympia Fields, Illinois 1964

Allen Hancock College, Santa Maria, California 1987

Lifetime Teaching Credential – California 1990

Military Service (include year(s) of discharge, if any):
n/a

Memberships and affiliations with clubs and other organizations:

California Escrow Association  1979 - 2001

President of Central Coast Escrow Association 1990

Professional Designations Chairman 1986 - 2001
Certified Escrow Officer – California 1983-2001

Certified Senior Escrow Officer – California 1988-2001

Certified Escrow Instructor -  California 1989-2001

Have you or a business you owned (or had principal interest in) ever filed bankruptcy?
No

As an adult, have you been convicted or charged with a crime other than a minor traffic violation?

No

CAMPAIGN INFORMATION:

Web site: DarleneStern.com
Email address: Darlene@DarleneStern.com
Phone number:  425-239-0200
Campaign manager: n/a
Campaign manager contact information: n/a

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE(S):

Elected:

none

Other campaigns for public office:
none

THIS CAMPAIGN:

What is the primary reason you are running for this office?

I want to restore common sense to the administration of our city by managing resources to balance and preserve the charm of Edmonds while increasing the revenue to accomplish that goal.

It takes resources to keep things beautiful and I would take the steps necessary to balance the scales between maintaining the infrastructure on which the cities charm rests and increasing the revenue to provide for it. In order for our city to prosper we need to bring together the neighborhoods, business community, City government, and our many civic organizations so that we are all working toward a common goal, a healthier, more vital Edmonds.

I come from a strong public safety, community service and business background. Using these factors I bring a wider vision for all of Edmonds. My experience in civic organizations, my commitment to my neighborhoods well being and my 32 years of business experience are a benefit to this Council position. As Police Chief for Edmonds my husband also saw the broader picture for this city. He worked in the public sector and involved himself in civic and business arenas as well. After his passing I have followed his legacy.  To that end I am an honorary Rotarian; on the Board of the Edmonds Police Foundation and a Board member of the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce representing the typical citizen of Edmonds. Now I’d like to add the public sector to the list by serving on the Edmonds City Council. By participating in these various layers of how Edmonds functions I bring a comprehensive perspective to the Council.

Since 1995 our city has had a common sense economic development plan that clearly states, that to keep the charm of Edmonds we need to maintain it as it matures. To do so takes a community-wide vision, cooperation and commitment. Our focus needs to be on issues that will bring resources into our community. We have a limited amount of land on which to expand and we must use these resources to increase our revenue and not expend it on those projects that drain our resources.

We have several neighborhoods within the city, each with its own resources and unique characteristics. Working together we can expand the resource base for all of Edmonds so that each neighborhood enjoys the success of all.

For 32 years I was a professional business manager during which time I was responsible for 7 offices in 7 different cities. I learned that by pooling the strengths of the several branch offices, even though in different cities and each with unique characteristics, they could work together to expand the resource base for the company more than they could individually. Each area had to maintain and even champion its differences, but with all working toward the same goals they achieved remarkable success. 

I look at our city in the same common sense way – several diverse communities each supporting the other. Together we can have economic vitality, maintain the character and enjoy beautification in all of our neighborhoods. To do so will take leadership, community-wide cooperation and a single-minded focus on generating resources to maintain the level of services and beauty of our community. 

What will be your top three priorities if you get elected and why?

Increase our revenue. We must provide the revenue to maintain the charm of Edmonds in all the neighborhoods. We have lost our focus on this fundamental requirement, to ensure that the city has sufficient income to operate. Lost opportunities cannot be regained but we can learn from them and insure that the remaining prospects provide the tax revenue so important to preserving the beauty of our communities.

Shore up our infrastructure. Not exciting but necessary. Fixing roofs and streets doesn’t command the attention that creating a beautification piece for our city does but it’s equally important. Deferred maintenance always costs more and we have been deferring for long enough. 

Support the Strategic Plan as it moves through the process of defining what the neighborhoods want for our community. For years the City Council have a history of requesting staff and outside consultants to tell us what we need to do to generate revenue and keep our charming city in the process. The answer from both areas has been about the same and the result the same. The result is that these ideas have been put on a shelf and ignored. We need to implement some of these ideas in order to provide for the continuance of charm for our beautiful city.

What sets you apart from the other candidates and/or previous office holders?

I would join the council with an open mind. I have no personal agenda to administer as a Council member. My purpose is to serve the needs of the community as a whole.  his city needs Council members who represent the citizens and will hear all points of view and be I willing to vote for the benefit of the whole, not the few.

Since living here I’ve been involved in our community by serving in civic organizations and on local business and neighborhood boards. Over the years I have achieved a wider vision of our community. Being a part of the solution and involved in the business of Edmonds from the various citizen perspectives gives me a well rounded outlook.

Over my 32 year business career my management experience combined with common sense  will be important to help Edmonds maintain its charm while restoring its vitality.

Consider:  Adding that I listening to the voters, I am a good listener and want to know what people have to say. 

• How much money do you expect your campaign to spend on this election?
  
  The projected target is between $8,000 and $10,000.
  
  Official endorsements:
  
  
• Everett Herald Newspaper
• Strom Peterson (City Council President)
• Ron and Michelle Clyborne
• Edmonds Police Association Guild
• Snohomish County Fire District #1 Professional Firefighters, Local 1828, IAFF
• Gary and Dolly Haakenson (Former Mayor of Edmonds)
• Chris and Nancy Fleck
• Cordy and Ann Beardsley
• Vice Admiral (Retired) Staser M. Holcomb and Joanne W. Holcomb
• Ron and Shirley Wambolt (Former Edmonds City Council Member)
• Richard L. Marin (Former Edmonds City Council Member)
• Bruce Faires, Port Commissioner
• Marianne Zagorski, Port Commissioner
• Fred Gouge, Port Commissioner
• Jim Orvis, Port Commissioner