The candidates for Fire District 7 also answered the Tribune's questions. Find their answers in this week's paper.
SNOHOMISH — Voters are winnowing the field of four candidates for Fire District 4 position 1 to a two-person runoff for November. The candidates in the primary are Mark Hintz, Mike Jorve, Evan Merritt and Darci Wilson.
The Fire Commission is a nonpartisan post, serving a six-year term.
The following is a questionnaire sent to the candidates and a summary of responses.
Wilson did not respond by deadline.
Why are you running?
Mark Hintz: The simplest answer is to continue my civic duty that I have been performing for the past 15 years, as an elected fire commissioner here in Fire District 4.
Mike Jorve: I want to be involved in my community and I believe that I can make a difference.
Evan Merritt: I am passionate about giving back and believe that I have the skill set to do so. As a firefighter and business owner, I have leadership skills, problem-solving skills and fiscal responsibility skills.
What is your connection to the fire commission?
Hintz: Currently sitting fire commissioner, for the past 15 years.
Jorve: I was a volunteer firefighter in District 4 from 1993 to 2007.
Merritt: As a resident of Snohomish and growing up in a family of firefighters, I want to improve the services provided by the district for the sake of my family, neighbors, and fellow citizens.
What do you hope to achieve as a commissioner?
Hintz: What I expect for the fire district, should I succeed in being re-elected, is to continue building upon our past successes. After I came on to the board the commissioners, (I) directed the fire chief to establish our in-house paramedic program, (and) built a state-of-the-arts fire and rescue training site.
Jorve: I don’t have an agenda. I am running to help out where I can. As a fire commissioner, I will watch out for our tax dollars, while helping to make sure that the fire department has the tools, personnel and training to protect the citizens.
Merritt: My goals are to improve public safety and service, and maintain financial stability and accountability.
What is Fire District 4’s most pressing issue, and how will you address it?
Hintz: Staffing is the most pressing issue. Our department is a combination-department of career and part-time firefighters, to keep up with the call volume in our district. The challenge is to maintain fiscal responsibility, when we continually lose part-time firefighters to career opportunities at other departments. Currently on the ballot is a levy to renew an expiring EMS (emergency medical services) levy. This levy will help us maintain our fiscal responsibility to provide emergency medical service to our citizens.
Jorve: Right now, the most pressing issue is the levy. That will be over by the time my term would start. After the election, if I win, I will become more involved and address whatever comes up. I am not aware of any pressing issues.
Merritt: Assessing the level of service the district is providing our taxpayers and (then) aligning that with the services that the citizens are actually willing to pay for. I would help to establish a process for continuous evaluation of the scope of service that the department provides and ensure that we are doing all we can with the resources entrusted to us.
What special skills do you bring to the table?
Hintz: I have no superhuman skills, just good common sense and analytical skills. Combining that with the knowledge of the operations and needs of the district developed over the past 15 years as one of three commissioners (has helped) me provide better service to the public.
Jorve: I have 14 years of fire service experience and 36 years of business experience.
Merritt: I own and operate a construction business that has given me the experience of project management, maintaining budgets, and providing excellent customer service. I am also knowledgeable and have experience in the fire service. I think that it is important to have a basic understanding of the fire service, the types of services entailed, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
