In Their Own Words: Meet Edmonds Mayoral Candidate Roger Hertrich

Editor's note: Edmonds Patch will be posting Q&As with candidates running for mayor and city council. Patch emailed the profile forms to candidates several weeks ago and will run their responses as they are submitted, beginning with and Roger Hertrich today. The primary election takes place Aug. 16 and includes mayor, city council seat number four, and positions three and five on the Edmonds School Board. The top two vote-getters in each race move on to the general election. For more on the candidates and races,

What is your full, legal name?

Roger P. Hertrich

Where do you work and what is your job title?

I worked for U.S. Steel Corp. and am now retired.

When and Where Were You Born?

Hoquiam, Wash. on April 25, 1936.

Where do you live now and  how long have you lived there?

I've lived in Edmonds for almost 40 years.

Spouse or domestic partner if any:

Wife, Joan.

Children:

Three adult children.

Education (include graduation date(s), if any):

I graduated from Central Washington University.

Military Service (include year(s) of discharge, if any):

I spent eight years in the U.S. Naval Air Reserve.

Memberships and affiliations with clubs and other organizations:

I am a member of the Elks and Eagles.

Have you or a business you owned (or had principal interest in) ever filed bankruptcy?

No.

As an adult, have you been convicted or charged with a crime other than a minor traffic violation?

No.

If so, please explain and include dates and locations.

CAMPAIGN INFORMATION:

Web site:  None
Email address: None
Phone number: 425-778-9572
Campaign manager: No paid campaign manager
Campaign manager contact information: n/a

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE(S):

Elected:

Edmonds City Council, 1989 to 1992

THIS CAMPAIGN:

What is the primary reason you are running for this office?

I’m running for Mayor because I looked at the other two candidates and felt I could do a better job. I saw a liberal Democrat mayor and a Republican who supports higher buildings in Edmonds. I'm more of a centrist. I am fiscally conservative with some liberal leanings.

What will be your top three priorities if you get elected and why?

1) The budget is my top priority. I want to maintain the communication we have now and tighten the budget. We need to figure out who is being overpaid, what can be cut, and what we need to maintain.

2) Promote tourism. We need to bring in money from outside in order to maintain the type of city we have. We must get creative with attracting tourists. Perhaps we could make Edmonds a stop for a tourist boat. We need to do anything we can to bring in new revenue.

3) I want to make sure the mayor's door is open. I will prioritize good communication with the business community and the public.

What sets you apart from the other candidates and/or previous office holders?

I'm not tied to any political party. I'm an independent. I also represented the city council and came to know many citizens through that role. I understand how the council works. I have very good communication with the majority of the current city council at this team. We'd make a good team.

How much money do you expect your campaign to spend on this election?

$150 plus the filing fee of $1,100. I'm operating with signs recycled from my city council campaign.

Official endorsements: 

None