I am concerned about Roz Gorc’s candidacy for Bothell City Council.

I am concerned that she is the developer candidate for City Council. Ms. Gorc is endorsed by the Master Builder’s Association. Ms. Gorc also expressed her support for the Bothell developer mayor at the March 10 City Council meeting, visible on the YouTube recording of the meeting at 1:28. It is Bothell’s developer mayor who has proposed building 50 homes on the Wayne Golf Course back 9. (Seattle Times 10/15/15 “Boom Times in Bothell”)

It is the developer majority on the Bothell City Council that passed the November 2014 Bothell ordinance that relaxed environmental standards for the North Creek watershed, a change that benefited developers and at least one Bothell City Council member, a change in environmental protection that the state of Washington subsequently rejected as doing irreparable harm to the North Creek watershed. (Seattle Times 8/3/15 “…board rejects Bothell’s development ordinance”)

I am therefore disconcerted to read the enthusiastic Christy Haugo October 14 endorsement of Ms. Gorc in the Bothell Reporter, saying Ms. Gorc “…is someone who doesn’t always believe that… more development is the answer….”

It is also disconcerting to read Ms. Haugo and others disparaging the incumbent as an “insider” when he has been in the outvoted minority opposing the developer majority on the City Council on issues such as lavish spending for the new City Hall and reducing environmental protections for North Creek.

I understand Ms. Haugo’s concern about excessive and inappropriate development, but if she is indeed seriously concerned, she has gotten the name of the candidate wrong – that candidate is Andy Rheaume.

I am concerned that Ms. Gorc has reported her occupation to King County elections and on her campaign web site as “Director of Community Emergency Response Team.” The Bothell Reporter summary of the Sept. 17 City Council candidate forum reports her as “full-time mom.” Bothell’s Emergency Response Coordinator is Jennifer Warnke. Ms. Gorc has no position in that office or with King or Snohomish county as best I can tell.

Ms. Haugo claims that Ms. Gorc is “one of us.” I’m not sure who the “us” is, but I know Andy Rheaume to be a conscientious and ethical person employed in an occupation serving the public interest; a native Bothell resident born, raised, and living in Bothell; a public-spirited citizen who has served Bothell on its City Council for the last four years and who has worked to serve the citizens’ interest; a candidate who has honestly and ethically reported his positions and employment without exaggeration or misrepresentation.

I am concerned that Ms. Gorc is quoted in the Bothell Reporter account of the Sept. 17 City Council candidate forum as “…expressing concerns about how the city would come up with money to maintain it (Wayne Golf Course). ‘How do we take care of it for the next 50, 100 years?’ she asked.” If Ms. Gorc can’t cope with that problem, she has no business running for city council. Perhaps she doesn’t believe Bothell can afford parks.

I question her ethics and qualifications. I don’t believe that Ms. Gorc has any substantive or pertinent experience in city operations or public policy which would cause Bothell voters to elect her to the Bothell City Council.

Dennis Skofstad, Bothell