Kloba to Run Unopposed as Kirkland Council Challenger Withdraws

Recently appointed Kirkland City Council Member Shelley Kloba will likely run unopposed in the Aug. 6 primary for her Position 2 seat, with challenger Dave McDonald apparently deciding to withdraw.

McDonald’s name will remain on the ballot, since he did not officially withdraw by the May 20 deadline to do so. McDonald’s name remains on the King County Elections agency’s list of candidates, which lists his address as 10623 NE 123rd Street, a Juanita address.

But according to a post on the Kirkland Views website, he has withdrawn from the race, sending a note saying: “I have decided to withdraw from the campaign for Kirkland City Council.  I might consider to  run at a later time.”

Kloba, a Kirkland Park Board member and legislative director of the Washington Parent Teacher Association, was appointed earlier this spring to the seat vacated by the sudden, unexplained resignation of Bob Sternoff on March 25.

Kloba said she has mixed feelings about the withdrawal.

“I think democracy is better served when voters have a real choice and issues are discussed and debated,” she said. “But still, it take the pressure off.”

She said she would still create a campaign web site and reach out to voters by knocking on doors. “The reality is, I’m a first-time candidate. All the advice I’ve gotten is that door-belling makes you a better candidate. I’m very much looking forward to it.”

The McDonald withdrawal leaves only one of five open seats with a serious challenger in the Aug. 6 election. Running unopposed are Position 3 incumbent Penny Sweet and Position 5 incumbent Amy Walen.

Position 1 candidate Jay Arnold, a member of the Kirkland Planning Commission, is faced by perennial candidate Martin Morgan of Rose Hill, who last ran 2011, finishing third and losing in the September primary. The Position 1 seat is currently held by Mayor Joan McBride, who announced in February that she would not run for re-election.

That leaves Deputy Mayor and Position 7 incumbent Doreen Marchione facing businessman William “Bill” Henkens in the primary. Henkens is the operator of The Game Neighborhood Grill and Bar in north Juanita and long active in efforts to support victims of domestic violence.

The general election in on Nov. 5.