Erwin Officially Kicks Off MI City Council Campaign

Ed. Note: This post is a press release from the Vote for Rich Erwin campaign.

City Council candidate Rich Erwin officially kicked off his campaign on Sunday, Sept. 8th in his race for the position No. 6 seat.

Erwin faces Benson Wong, an attorney with Keller Rohrback, LLP, on the November ballot.  In his remarks Erwin opposed the current plan to toll I-90 and outlined creative alternatives to paying for transportation infrastructure improvements. 

Erwin proposed that financing our transportation infrastructure should be handled within the existing structure of Puget Sound Regional Council, which is represented by the city and county council members within King, Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap counties.  This body includes representatives from the cities and the four counties directly impacted by I-90 access.

 “We on Mercer Island need to work with our municipal neighbors, state and national leaders, and organizations whose interests we share,” said Erwin.  “We need to fund our transportation infrastructure.  But, a regionally funded solution spreads the burden more fairly.”

Erwin, who is running for Position #6 being vacated by City Council member Mike Grady, has significant experience on land use issues both on and off Mercer Island. 

Erwin currently chairs the Mercer Island Design Commission which reviews all development projects proposed on the Island. His leadership experience extends to East Bellevue Community Council where he served as a member, balancing the needs of developers and those cherishing local parks and open spaces.  He was Financial Director of the Thrivent East King County charitable board and has 26 years of experience at Boeing in Engineering and Information Technology.

Erwin’s campaign is supported by elected and prominent Mercer Islanders across the spectrum.  They include current City Council member Debbie Bertlin, former City Council members El Jahncke and Marguerite Sutherland and former mayor Elliot Newman.  Emmett Maloof, former Chair of the Mercer Island Design Commission is an endorser, as are current and former members of the MI School Board including Pat Braman, David Myerson, Carrie George and Lisa Eggers.   Current and former board members of the Senior Foundation of Mercer Island Angela Decker and Rivian Smith are also endorsing his campaign.