Shaw, 53, has experience as a city councilman and school board member. And even though he has only lived here for four years, the retired Army Reserve major is active in the local American Legion and on the Snohomish County Solid Waste Board.

“The city needs a new perspective, a new voice, a look through a different lens,” he said.

Toyer counters that the City Council works well with Mayor Jon Nehring and the city’s department heads, so why make a change?

“Why take one of the starters out of the game?” he asked, using a football analogy.

Shaw countered. “Why not go to free agency and trade up?”

Toyer, 34, owns Toyer Wealth Management in Lake Stevens and spent one year on the planning commission. He’s on the Marysville-Tulalip Chamber of Commerce, the Marysville Fire District and is a Marine Corps Reserve vet.

Shaw has 25 years of experience in human resources in Los Angeles County. He has been a union member and later a manager, while also dealing with contracts and legislative analysis. He has a master’s degree in public administration and as a school board member helped his district obtain more money and better academic scores.

Toyer has helped Marysville stable its finances, revitalize downtown, help with economic development, aid expansion of the trail system and approved the Spray Park.

“We’re going the right direction. I have a proven track record,” he said.

He feels like he’s part of the City Council team, but when pressed said most of his individual contributions have come in helping to obtain state funding for transportation projects. He also supported the Transportation Board District and its road repairs.

Shaw said Marysville is not growing the way surrounding communities like Everett and Snohomish, or even Lakewood and Arlington. He said the city lacks an identity.

“It needs to be known for something,” he said.

Shaw said the city needs something like a restaurant row to get more foot traffic downtown.

“We’re sitting on a gold mine,” he said of the city’s potential.

He said revenue sales are not where they should be because too many people spend their money elsewhere.

He added an antique district like the one in Snohomish would be a wonderful addition here.

As a council member, Toyer has been involved on committees regarding a Rural Fire Authority and a fireworks panel.

Toyer supports a fire authority but talks broke down when the panel couldn’t agree on the board makeup that would govern the entity. The fire district basically doesn’t want four City Council members on the fire board, even those it does agree the city should have more representation.

Regarding the controversial fireworks issue, Toyer said the committee researched the issue long and hard from all different angles and decided to keep the law in place. An online survey supported that decision.

But then, seemingly out of the blue, Council Member Stephen Muller suggested an advisory vote, which is also now on the Nov. 3 ballot.

As an ex-Marine, Toyer said he appreciates the history and symbolism of fireworks.

“I wouldn’t want to lose a piece of that,” he said.

Shaw said when he heard the blasts on July 4 he had a flashback to Iraq. Not too many areas in Southern California had fireworks, but he understands the history and culture of Marysville and that it is something many people like to do. His main objection is people setting them off until 2 a.m.

“It’s a hot potato,” he said, adding that tougher time enforcement would help.

Shaw said he knows he has to work on name recognition to beat an incumbent. He’s been going door to door a lot.

“Face to face contact is better than any other,” he said, adding he has support from the military, his church and some school teachers.

During his term, Toyer ran for state representative, and he didn’t rule that out again.

“You can hold both offices,” he said, adding he had a strong showing against a strong incumbent so he has a strong future in politics.

Shaw said he doesn’t understand that.

“Where’s your heart,” he asked.

Toyer said he’s proud of what the city has done during his tenure. Finances are stable, and there is a 10 percent reserve. He’s also excited about the new estuary and all of the opportunities there.

“Relationships mean the most,” Toyer said.

Shaw said the city needs to do a better job of marketing itself to lose some of its stigma and improve its image. He used to go to conventions and reach out to try to bring businesses to Monrovia, CA. He said the local chamber is failing; it should have 60 percent of businesses as members, he said.

“We need to be in a position for people to come here and shop,” he said.

 

Mayor Jon Nehring and council members Stephen Muller and Kamille Norton are running unopposed for re-election.

Marysville School District directors Mariana Maksimos, Pete Lundberg and Tom Albright are also running unopposed.