City of Mount Vernon

Incumbent Richard Brocksmith is running for Mount Vernon City Council in the At-Large Position. Brocksmith first joined the council in 2018, having served on the city’s planning commission before that. He was appointed to the Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission in 2020 and serves on the board of the Mount Vernon Public Schools Foundation. Brocksmith is also the executive director of the Skagit Watershed Council.

Brocksmith is running on a platform that emphasizes housing, infrastructure, economic development, and public green space. He has a 2- to 3-year plan to expand housing options for multiple income levels in order to address housing insecurity that many Mount Vernon residents face. Brocksmith wants to invest in community development including the Library Commons project, street and wastewater treatment plant enhancements, and utilizing the Local Fiscal Recovery for local parks and trails.

Challenging Brocksmith in this race is Larry Carpenter, a retired business owner. Carpenter previously served as president of the Master Marine Services and is a current commissioner with the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. His campaign has been backed by the county Republicans and he doesn’t have a campaign platform or website as of mid-October, including being unresponsive to local requests for interviews.

We recommend Richard Brocksmith for the at-large position on the Mount Vernon City Council because of his community-centered platform and his progressive support in this race from elected officials and local organizations.

Incumbent Juan Morales is running for re-election to Position 1 on the Mount Vernon City Council in Ward 1. Morales was appointed to this role in late 2020 after Erin Moberg resigned, and before that, he served as a judicial assistant for Skagit County Superior Court. He previously worked with the council on Washington’s Voting Rights Act of 2018 and currently sits on the Mount Vernon Fireworks Committee.

During his time on the council, Morales worked to provide funding for emergency housing services through the Skagit First Step Center and supply motel vouchers for those without stable housing. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he also sought to support and strengthen both small, local businesses as well as city services. Morales is running to continue bringing transparent and accountable progressive leadership to the council. He has earned the support of the local Democrats and progressive elected officials in this race.

Navor Tercero is challenging Morales on a vague platform that includes creating policy around business interests and increasing law enforcement funding. Tercero owns his own upholstery repair business and served on the Skagit Hospice board. Unfortunately, his campaign website doesn’t work as of early October.

Juan Morales is the best choice in this race. He deserves your vote to remain in Ward 1, Position 1 on the Mount Vernon City Council.

Incumbent Iris Carias is running for re-election to the Mount Vernon City Council, representing Ward 1 in Position 2. Carias joined the council in 2018 where she has worked to improve representation in city government and lift all Mount Vernon voices. Carias’ background is in social services, caregiving, and community leadership. Outside of the council, she works as a liaison for the school district’s Migrant Education Program.

When the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated Mount Vernon’s housing crisis, Carias worked with the rest of the council to direct funds to rental assistance, emergency housing, and other housing resources. If re-elected, she would continue advocating for community needs and public services, including more affordable housing policy and updates to transportation infrastructure like the North 30th traffic light and the widening of College Way under I-5.

Carias faces a challenge from Daniel Downs, a senior planner for Skagit County, He emphasizes pouring money into helping businesses recover but wants to cut social services that Mount Vernon community members have relied on more than ever during the pandemic. Unfortunately, Downs lacks a detailed campaign platform and website as of early October.

Iris Carias is the best choice in this race and deserves re-election for Mount Vernon City Council, Ward 1, Position 1 to continue bringing progressive leadership to the city.