In Their Own Words: Meet Edmonds Mayoral Candidate Mike Cooper

Editor's note: Edmonds Patch will be posting Q&As with candidates running for mayor and city council. Patch emailed the profile forms to candidates several weeks ago and will run their responses as they are submitted, beginning with Roger Hertrich and yesterday and Mike Cooper today. The primary election takes place Aug. 16 and includes mayor, city council seat number four, and positions three and five on the Edmonds School Board. The top two vote-getters in each race move on to the general election. For more on the candidates and races,

What is your full, legal name?

James Micheal Cooper

Where do you work and what is your job title?

Mayor of Edmonds, Retired from Shoreline Fire Department
Part time announcer Edmonds Woodway High School Wrestling

When and Where Were You Born?

Sunnyside, WA Jan 16, 1952

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

In the bowl in the historic home where I grew up. Our family came to Edmonds in 1965

Spouse or domestic partner if any:

Chrystal

Children:

Three married adult children, three grandchildren and one due in December

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

Edmonds High School 1970, Attended Edmonds Community College and Linfield College

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

None

Memberships and affiliations with clubs and other organizations:

Transportation Choices Coalition board member, past chair
Camp Burton Foundation Board Chair
30 year member Shoreline Firefighters, past president, now President Emeritus
Retired Secretary-Treasurer Washington State Council of Firefighters Burn Foundation

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: www.mikecooper.org
Email address: mikecooperformayor@gmail.com
Phone number: (425) 772-1419
Campaign manager: no paid manager
Campaign manager contact information: N/A

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE(S):

Elected:
Washington State House of Representatives Jan. 1997- Jan. 2005
Chair Snohomish County Charter Review Commission 2006
Snohomish County Council Jan. 2008 – July 2010

Other campaigns for public office:
State representative 1994
Washington Commissioner of Public Lands 2004

THIS CAMPAIGN:

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

I was appointed mayor of Edmonds in a challenging time in our history. We have accomplished much, but the work is not done. Edmonds is my home, a city where I can use my skills as a leader to take us to the future.

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

1. A sustainable financial future. Failure to act in the past has left the city in a challenging position. We must plan for the long term. Simply continuing to cut does not resolve these challenges. It takes a combination of outside the box and traditional revenue discussions as well as looking for efficiencies. My administration is doing that.

2. Continuing to attract new business to our city. We have had success, but the Strategic Planning process and the ongoing discussions in the Westgate, Five Corners and Highway 99 neighborhoods, as well as the waterfront will be key to our future. This planning needs to include a transportation infrastructure that is accessible to all.

3. Continued clean energy and conservation policies. Conservation actions taken in our city buildings, conversion of our vehicle fleet to hybrid and all electric, and looking for alternative energy like solar on city buildings has and will save the taxpayers thousands of dollars per year now and into the future.

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

When the city needed a mayor, I stepped forward and offered leadership at a time when the city needed a leader. I have a vision for the future and a record of leading. My work at both state and local government make me uniquely qualified. As chair of the county council I wrote and passed a $200 million dollar county budget, as
vice-chair of the house transportation committee, I helped write a multi-billion dollar state transportation budget. I have chaired legislative policy committees in the areas of environmental issues and financial institutions. As Chair of the County Charter review commission I led a group to consensus to put measures before the voters. As chair of the Governor’s Oil Spill Advisory Committee I led a diverse group of environmental, local government, labor union, tribal, and maritime industry stakeholders to a consensus report to the legislature on oil spill prevention and response. No other candidate has the breadth and depth of experience that I bring to the city.

How much money do you expect your campaign to spend on this election?

I will spend the amount needed to get my message to the voters.

Official endorsements:

Congressman Jay Inslee,
State Senator Maralyn Chase,
State Senator Paull Shin,
State Senator Steve Hobbs,
State Representative Marko Liias,
Snohomish County Sheriff John Lovick,
Brier Mayor Bob Colinas
Edmonds City Council President Strom Peterson
Edmonds City Council member Adrienne Fraley-Monillas,
Fire Commissioner Jim Kenny
Fire Commissioner Millie Judge,
Firefighters Local 1828,
Washington Conservation Voters
Cascade Bicycle Club,
NW Washington Building and Construction Trades Council
NARAL Pro-Choice Washington