成人X站

MYNORTHWEST OPINION

Kaczaraba: It took an election for me to figure out I don’t live in Edmonds

Nov 1, 2023, 1:07 PM | Updated: 4:02 pm

recount election king...

(Photo: Getty Images)

(Photo: Getty Images)

Elections are a big deal in my house.

I’ve always been interested in politics. I was a political science major in college and the executive producer of Inside Politics on CNN.

More on local elections: Don鈥檛 know who to vote for? We have an excellent resource聽

I sat down with my wife Tuesday night to fill out our election ballots. We had our voter pamphlets and our newspapers and also looked up on the net.

I was excited to get to vote on Edmonds mayor because I had been seeing signs all over the neighborhood.

But it was not to be. No mayoral race on the ballot.

I thought, “Could this have been a misprint?” Immediately my journalist brain thought this could be a good story for MyNorthwest.

So I went to the and emailed them about what gives and gave them my address.

They responded quickly with this note:

Thank you for contacting the Elections Division.聽 Your address is outside of the city limits.聽 To be eligible to vote on city candidates including the Mayor, you must live within the city limits. We have a map on our website that will show you the boundaries, here is the :

So apparently I live in a neighborhood called Esperance that is surrounded by Edmonds on all four sides. I knew I lived in the Esperance neighborhood, but I didn’t know that neighborhood wasn’t part of Edmonds.

More Kaczaraba: MLB All-Star Game a picture-perfect day for Seattle

This isn’t unprecedented in Washington.

  • , is surrounded by ; though also has a coast on Lake Washington
  • , is surrounded by ; though also has a coast on Commencement Bay

According to the internet: “Esperance is a census-designated place (CDP) in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Esperance is an enclave of the city of聽Edmonds, Washington.”

Wikipedia added:

Five times in the last 50 years, the City of Edmonds has looked at annexing Esperance into the city. In each case, voters in the enclave have rejected the annexation. Issues for annexation include a desire for a contiguous City of Edmonds, continuity of services and a belief that services will be easier to provide. Arguments against annexation include desire to remain part of unincorporated area of Snohomish County, an expectation that taxes may rise with annexation, and the desire to take part in activities that are possible in the county that would not be permitted under city regulations. The latter includes less regulation for building certain structures and the ability to keep animals.

Who knew? The next thing I’ll try to figure out is why I have an Edmonds mailing address. Stay tuned.

Bill Kaczaraba is a Digital Content Editor for MyNorthwest

MyNorthwest Opinion

childcare snohomish county...

Nate Nehring and Jared Mead, Special Contributors to MyNorthwest

Snohomish County Council members: Here’s how we’re tackling Washington’s childcare crisis

The Snohomish County Council is tackling the state's childcare crisis head-on. Councilmembers Nate Nehring and Jared Mead explain their bipartisan efforts.

1 month ago

INRIX leaving Kirkland...

Kurt Triplett, SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR TO MYNORTHWEST

City of Kirkland: 8 facts everyone needs to know about our permanent supportive housing project

The city of Kirkland wishes to provide insights into its permanent supportive housing project for the homeless at the old La Quinta Inn.

1 month ago

At the Whatcom Humane in Bellingham, the puppy rush came early...

Brandon Thompson, 成人X站 7 News

56 puppies overwhelm Whatcom Humane in Bellingham

Animal shelters prepare for puppy season as Whatcom Humane welcomes 56 new arrivals, highlighting the need for community support.

2 months ago

employer shuttles bill...

Matt Markovich

Bill to open bus only lanes to employer shuttles sparks debate in Olympia

A proposed bill in Olympia aims to let employer shuttles use transit lanes, igniting discussion among business and transit leaders.

2 months ago

satellites, night sky...

Bill Kaczaraba

Opinion: With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world

American author Max Ehrmann wrote a poem in 1921. It was distributed in a Christmas card in 1933,

1 year ago

Gingerbread House...

MyNorthwest Staff

成人X站 Newsradio wins Bonneville Gingerbread House competition

In a tradition unlike any other, the second annual Bonneville Seattle Gingerbread House competition was fierce between multiple departments.

1 year ago

Kaczaraba: It took an election for me to figure out I don’t live in Edmonds