Different works for new school leader

In running for office for the first time, Vanessa Edwards did some things a little differently.

But they worked out for her as she beat incumbent Bruce Larson for the Marysville School Board.

Unlike most political candidates, Edwards didn’t put signs up until ballots came out.

“At first I didn’t want to do signs,” she said Thursday, adding she relied more on social media.

Edwards said there are so many of them after a while people don’t even pay attention. “I went out and talked to people,” she said. “I wanted them to know who I actually am” before voting for me.

As a result of putting her signs out just before election day, she said more people seemed to notice them because they were new.

“They were fresh,” she said.

Edwards, who had been a critic of the district for its handling of Marysville Getchell High School, said most of her support came from parents.

Students were a big help too, talking to family and friends about her. “They wore my buttons,” she said of students.

Once she takes office, Edwards said she has a lot of learning to do. But one thing she knows she wants is to “work closely with the (teachers) union to build a better relationship.”

On Election Night, Edwards was in a virtual tie with Larson, leading by only 39 votes. But the lead has increased almost every day as ballots were counted since Nov. 7. As of Thursday night it stood at 489 votes, or 52 percent to 48 percent. “I still can’t believe it,” she said. “I’m in shock.”

As of Thursday, 147,758 ballots were counted in Snohomish County. Only a portion of those are from the Marysville-Arlington areas. Turnout is 33 percent overall. In all of the other local races, the numbers changed, but the results didn’t. In the other school board race, incumbent Chris Nation is beating Ray Sheldon 61 percent to 38 percent. For Marysville City Council, businessman Mark James and volunteer extraordinaire Tom King were leading incumbents by large margins. James had 59 percent and Donna Wright 41 percent. King had 56 percent and Jeff Seibert 43 percent. Council incumbents were leading easily in the other two council races: Jeff Vaughan with 66 percent and Robert Weiss with 34 percent; and Michael Stevens with 84 percent and Elijah Olson 15 percent.

ARLINGTON

Challenger Joshua Roundy was easily defeating longtime incumbent Chris Raezer for the City Council 71 percent to 28 percent.

Incumbent Jesica Stickles was leading her race against Craig Christianson 54 percent to 45 percent.

For the school board, incumbent Ursula Ghirardo was way behind challenger Judy Fay 59 percent to 41 percent. For the open seat, Marc Rosson had a big lead over Lyanne Rolf 60 percent to 40 percent.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY

Nate Nehring of Stanwood was beating Ray Miller of Marysville 60 percent to 40 percent.

UNCONTESTED

There are other races locally but they were uncontested. Arlington: City Council Members Debora Nelson and Jan Schuette. Lakewood: School board members Oscar Escalante, Catherine Sandy Gotts and Jahna Smith.

Marysville: Judges Lorrie Towers and Fred Gillings. Fire Districts: Commissioners Tonya Christofferson (12); David Safford (21); Paul Taylor (22); Tony Greene (23); Syd Nerland (25); Larry Longley, Jan Iverson and Ric Cade (North County).

Cascade Valley Hospital: Commissioner Tina Davis

BY THE NUMBERS

County Council: Nehring, 17,261; Miller 11,509.

Arlington Council: Stickles 1,626; Christianson, 1,351.

Roundy 2,034; Raezer 812.

Marysville Council: Vaughan 6,596; Weiss 3,423.

James 6,129; Wright 4,221

King 5,708; Seibert 4,397

Stevens 8,322; Olson 1,529

Arlington School Board: Fay 3,479; Ghirardo 2,429.

Rosson 3,498; Rolf 2,326

Marysville School Board: Nation 7,375; Sheldon 4,589.