RECORD SOUTH WHIDBEY
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2012 | Vol. 88, No. 1 | WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM | 75¢
2012
INSIDE: History that binds, Island Living, A10
Storylines worth watching
With the start of a new news year, the Record newsroom looked ahead at six storylines to watch in 2012.
Plans, predictions and prayers
New mayor takes over in the Village by the Sea Don’t expect Langley to leave the headlines in 2012. The Village by the Sea will stay center stage amid a wholesale changeover at city hall. Mayor Larry Kwarsick has taken the helm at city hall, and the city will also be served by a city council that boasts only one council member who was on the board two years ago. Joining Councilwoman Rene Neff on the council are Councilman Hal Seligson, a December 2010 appointee who was elected in November, as well as new appointee Councilman Doug Allderdice, and Councilman J. Bruce Allen and Councilman Jim Sundberg, who were also both elected late last year. Kwarsick, the city’s former planning director, was sworn into office last week. Before a standing-room-only crowd of friends, family and well-wishers, Kwarsick vowed to show residents who voted for him — and those who didn’t — that the city was in good hands. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be the 26th mayor of the city of Langley, a year before its hundredth birthday,” he said. “I’m fortunate because I’ve come into this office in an uncontested race. It’s nice in some ways, but I realize that I have to basically demonstrate my worthiness and my capability to be the mayor of Langley. “I certainly fully intend to do that. But not with words, with actions,” Kwarsick told the crowd. “I’m more of an action person, some of you may know, than a words person. Sometimes you’ll have trouble getting words out of me, but not too much trouble getting work or action out of me.” Despite a lifetime of public service, Kwarsick is entering his first term in
“I’d like to see a spirit of peace and cooperation, people getting along with each other and the return of civility and generosity. I’m tired of people butting heads.” Mary Lidral, Clinton
Brian Kelly / The Record
“I’m hoping to sell my house. It’s an election year, too, so you never know what could happen.” Carrie Allen, Clinton
Langley Mayor Larry Kwarsick stands with his granddaughter Naomi Atwood as he speaks to the crowd gathered inside Langley City Hall after taking the oath of office to become the city’s 26th mayor. elected office. He ran unopposed for mayor, as Paul Samuelson decided against seeking a second term and no other challengers emerged. Kwarsick pulled in 400 votes on Election Day, though 54 voters in Langley wrote in someone else’s name for mayor on their ballots. Samuelson got 22 write-in votes, while other Langley notables, such as Bob Waterman, Robert Gilman and Mark Wahl, picked up a write-in vote or two here and there.
In his short speech after taking the oath of office, Kwarsick acknowledged he has a bit of work to do at city hall. “I also know that not everybody supports me. And people have their doubts, maybe even people that support me,” he added. “People should never doubt my commitment to the city and the community, and for the well-being of the community SEE STORYLINES, A3
“I hope that it turns out well. There were a lot of bad things in ‘11.” Bobbi Rankin, Clinton SEE PREDICTIONS, A2
REPORTED BY BRIAN KELLY, BEN WATANABE AND PATRICIA DUFF | SOUTH WHIDBEY RECORD