Staff Report
Three more Mercer Island residents have filed to run for city council seats in the November 2021 general election, according to the King County Elections site. The deadline to submit applications was at 4 p.m. May 21.
The primary election will take place on Aug. 3 and the general election is set for Nov. 2.
POSITION 2
Daniel Becker will run for Position 2 against incumbent Salim Nice.
* Nice, former deputy mayor and longtime resident of Mercer Island, said in a press release that his guiding principles have been public safety, financial sustainability, ethics, parks, and strong community engagement.
Nice explained what a second term might include: “I am running for re-election with the experience and understanding of what the city and its residents have endured over the past several years due to the budget crisis and the pandemic. As an experienced city council member, I support programs and services that will bring Islanders together. We will continue to stabilize the government and advance our community’s priorities.”
* Becker started his company, Kotis Design, in 2003 while he was still in college. Kotis Design creates custom logo apparel, promotional items, and fulfillment services.
“I’m running to bring a consistent, moderate, pragmatic voice to the Mercer Island City Council. I’m excited to bring my business experience and my longevity on Mercer Island to keep the Island such a great place to live,” said Becker in a press release.
The Mercer Island High School graduate and valedictorian went on to graduate from the University of Washington with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration with a focus on information systems. He lives with his husband, Will Quantz, and their son on First Hill on the north end of Mercer Island.
POSITION 4
Michael D. Curry will run for Position 4 against Ted Weinberg.
* After serving on the Mercer Island Planning Commission for the last four years, Weinberg will put his hat in the ring for a city council seat.
“I’m running because I want to give back to the community that I love, and it’s given me so much over the years,” said longtime Island resident Weinberg, who added that he’s open minded and enjoys listening to people and crafting legislation that is in the best interest of the Island.
During his time on the Planning Commission, Weinberg and his fellow members have helped the city work through complicated issues, including the comprehensive plan, the critical areas ordinance and the shoreline master plan, according to a press release.
* The Reporter reached out to Curry, but didn’t receive a response at post time.
POSITION 6
Adam Ragheb will run for Position 6 against Lisa Anderl (who currently holds Position 4) and Kate Akyuz. Mayor Benson Wong currently holds Position 6, but will not run for re-election.
* Anderl, a longtime Island resident, said in a press release that she’s focused on building a sustainable city government, providing citizens the services they expect, and preserving the special nature of Mercer Island, from its peaceful single-family neighborhoods to its wooded parks, to the trails.
Regarding the budget crisis that was predicted by prior leadership in 2018, Anderl noted that “We are now (almost) post-pandemic and the city’s biennial budget for 2021-2022 is healthy. City departments have been restructured, and many cost-saving measures have been put into place. This is because the city council, the city manager, and her leadership team have focused on critical policy and operational issues, and working collaboratively.”
* Akyuz is ready to fit local politics into her schedule, which is already brimming with a challenging full-time job as an environmental scientist and as the mother of three children in a blended family.
“The job of government is too important to leave to others, and I know that I have the experience and skill set to do good things for the city,” said Akyuz, who has lived on Mercer Island for eight years and works in the King County Water and Land Resources Division.
Akyuz thinks the council is missing the science aspect that she’ll bring to the table if elected. The candidate said she has government experience and knows the State Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act and more.
* Ragheb, an aerospace systems engineer, grew up working on the family farm in the midwest and is the son of two educators. He learned to appreciate the value of hard work, good environmental stewardship, and excellent schools.
“My passions as a city council member would focus around keeping our parks beautiful, healthy, and accessible, keeping our schools well-funded, and supporting the residential character of Mercer Island. I am a strong proponent of making decisive data-driven decisions to avoid analysis paralysis and its associated costs and inaction,” he said.
If elected, he plans to open the lines of communication with his constituents: “I pledge to hear every Island resident who wishes to be heard, even in the cases where our personal beliefs may differ,” he said.
