It’s summer. Days are long and often busy. Elections usually aren’t on our minds, but Tuesday, August 4, 2015, is voting day in King County… the August Primary Election.
Ballots for the mail-in election must be postmarked (don’t forget the stamp) by the August 4th or deposited into a 24-hour ballot drop box by 8PM.
In North Bend, multiple citizens threw their names into the race for city council seats up for election this year. For two of those seats, more than two candidates filed, which requires an August Primary.
The top two vote-getters in each race will move on to the November General Election.
North Bend City Council Seat #3
Dee Williamson 
Incumbent Dee Williamson is seeking re-election, stating in the Voter’s Pamphlet that his priorities are Public Health, Safety, Emergency Preparedness and Financial Responsibility. Dee is an Operations Training and Standards Consultant at Puget Sound Energy. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Sciences from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
From Williamson’s Voters Pamphlet Statement:
Our city has a new fire station and new Police Services. I have served as Director and Alternate for Eastside Fire and Rescue. I am uniquely qualified to serve to improve the Emergency Preparedness of our city as I volunteer as a Community Emergency Preparedness Team Instructor, member of the Amateur Radio Emergency Services team, and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service Radio Officer for the city as well as being certified in Incident Command System and National Incident Management System.
While serving, we have never increased your property taxes. All large expenditures have been voted on. Our city’s bond ratings have increased. New challenges will be to re-vitalize downtown, address blight, build a civic center and new city hall while maintaining a “no new taxes” policy.
Trevor Kostanich 
Trevor Kostanich is challenging Williamson for council position #3. He is the owner of Relevant Planning & Development, which is guiding a new mixed use project at Snoqualmie Pass called The Pass Life.
Before that he oversaw Planning & Development for The Summit at Snoqualmie Kostanich is also a Ski Guide at Pro Guiding Service and serves on North Bend’s Economic Development Commission. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington.
From Kostanich’s Voters Guide Statement:
I believe we are at a critical, and fortunate, time for the future of North Bend. We are surrounded by natural beauty with a good network of public parks, an authentic downtown core with great potential, and an interstate freeway connecting us with a metropolitan city. Such unique assets provide us a spectacular location to live without becoming the next eastside suburbia.
As your city council member I will prioritize revitalization of downtown, creating and maintaining usable public spaces, and connecting existing and new residential areas to local businesses, schools, and organizations.
Rich Wiltshire 
Rich Wiltshire is also challenging Williamson for city council seat #3. Wilshire is a former member of the Navy and currently works in IT Project Management. He has over 30 years of management and leadership experience and states that he values Respect, Integrity, Commitment and Honesty.
From Wiltshire’s Voters Pamphlet Statement:
We deserve a City Council that interacts with us, the citizens. We deserve a City Council that will listen to us, the citizens. We deserve a City Council that reaches out to its citizens all the time, not just election year. We deserve a City Council with direction.
Since moving to North Bend, my wife and I have volunteered for many local events and festivals. I have enjoyed serving the community and meeting many people of North Bend and other Snoqualmie Valley cities.
The City of North Bend deserves a fresh set of eyes and an open mind. My commitment is to you and the City of North Bend.
North Bend City Council Seat #7
Ryan Kolodejchuk 
Incumbent Ryan Kolodejchuk has served as a council member for the past four years. He is the President and Owner of Landwork Enterprises, Inc. Kolodejchuk states he is involved with local organizations, including the Snoqulamie Valley Governors Association, Eastside Transportation Partnership, Meadowbrook Farm and the Metropolitan Parks District.
From Kolodejchuk’s Voters Pamphlet Statement:
After being elected four years ago I immediately engaged in all duties of my new position and excelled in communicating and working with all elected officials, multiple agencies, community organizers, and volunteers to help make North Bend a wonderful and vibrant community. My active involvement has added to the value and benefits that participation with a larger pool of civic-minded leaders has had on our city’s growth and the community at large.
Because of my willingness to engage with an open mind, I have helped bring tough critical city issues to a resolution and I am eager to help the future of North Bend succeed.
Judy Bilanko 
Judy Bilanko grew up in North Bend and serves on North Bend’s Parks Commission. She attended the University of Washington and is currently retired. During her career worked for the City of Wenatchee and spent 15 years in mortgage banking.
Bilanko states she now has the time and energy to devote to serving her city and believes parks, recreation areas, open spaces and trails are unique and valuable assets which must be maintained and preserved.
From Bilanko’s Voters Pamphlet Statement:
I see the city’s priorities as the responsible handling of the unprecedented growth, assuring public safety, maintaining the basic infrastructure and managing economic development to best serve the interests of all its citizens. I look forward to facing challenging issues as they arise and want to contribute to the solutions.
Martin Volken 
Martin Volken is a business owner, author, project development consultant and an Internationally certified Mountain Guide. He attended Switzerland’s College of Commerce and Languages.
Volken currently serves on North Bend’s Economic Development Commission and states that the commission developed and officially adopted the city’s Outdoor Brand. He and his family have resided in North Bend for 20 years.
From Volken’s Voters Pamphlet Statement:
As a council member I would help realize the potentialof our brand. I have spent my entire professional career in the outdoor recreation industry and have built and sustained my businesses in downtown North Bend since 1999.
We need to revitalize our downtown in order to stimulate the local economy and ultimately increase our quality of life. I would like to see the downtown revitalization used as a touching stone to other well-planned community projects.
Our natural surroundings are our greatest asset and we need to build relationships with the responsible land management agencies if we want to have any influence in how our surroundings look and how we can utilize them to the benefit of the North Bend community.
For more details on the North Bend City Council candidates read the Snoqualmie Valley Record, Meet the North Bend City Council Primary Candidates article or visit www.kingcounty.gov/elections.
