Snohomish City Council Candidates answer on campus, other issues

The upcoming 2025 Snohomish City Council election highlights a divide over the proposed $55-million City Campus project. Incumbent Tom Merrill claims the campus will reduce long-term maintenance costs and improve efficiency, while challenger Randall Marrs insists there are more cost-effective options to house public works. In Position 5, incumbent David Flynn defends the council's fiscal responsibility, emphasizing a balanced budget, but challenger Fred Gaitan argues that the city should not expand into a large suburban area. Gaitan believes the current city hall is sufficient and warns against overburdening families with high taxes or utility fees. Candidates in Position 6, Gabriel Jacobs and Bill Webster, express differing opinions on the Civic Campus, with Jacobs advocating for more affordable solutions.

The candidates uniformly emphasize conservative fiscal policies, aiming to prioritize core infrastructure over large projects. The debate over First Street improvements also underscores public safety concerns, with both sides seeking effective parking solutions. As residents engage in the candidate forum, growth and fiscal responsibility remain central themes in the election.