From
the Enterprise Newspaper, Published: Friday, May 21, 2004
Legislature
Mark Ericks is best one to replace Edwards
I've had the honor to represent the citizens of this community
at the state capitol in Olympia for six wonderful years. I've
decided to forgo running for a fourth term and take a more relaxed
approach to my retirement years!
It's time to allow someone else to enjoy what to me was an extremely
rewarding experience. That's why I am both pleased and excited
to let you know that former Bothell Police Chief Mark Ericks has
agreed to step forward and run. Mark will be an outstanding addition
to our First District team and I'll do whatever I can to assist
in his effort this fall.
I've known and worked with Mark for 20 years and know him to
be a person of high ideals and integrity. Mark's career in law
enforcement began in Bellevue then moved to Bothell where he spent
11 years building the force into the respected and professional
organization that it is today.
Since his "retirement" in 2002 Mark has been working
as the assistant to the Bothell city manager, maintaining a close
connection to the community.
Mark's experience, combined with his strong sense of community,
makes him the obvious choice this fall. I've worked closely with
Mark on scores of community projects over the years. Whether it
was his work to help us develop Cascadia Community College/University
of Washington – Bothell or his many years of volunteer service,
Mark has always been honest, hard working – and a true leader
in this community.
In addition to his work here at home, his efforts as an advocate
for the Bothell Police Department in Olympia clearly indicate
that he has what it takes to be an effective voice for all of
us.
Mark Ericks will be a leader we can count on.
JEANNE EDWARDS
State Representative
1st Legislative District
From
the King County Journal, May 4, 2004
BOTHELL
Edwards won't run, backs Ericks in 1st
State Rep. Jeanne Edwards said Monday she will not seek a fourth
term in the state House, and endorsed former Bothell police chief
Mark Ericks for the seat.
Edwards, a Democrat, has represented the 1st District since 1999.
The district includes parts of Bothell and Woodinville. She said
she planned to ``take a more relaxed approach to my retirement
years.''
Ericks, 52, worked for the Bellevue Police Department for 17
years before he was hired as Bothell's police chief in 1990. He
retired from law enforcement in 2002 and has worked since as a
city administrator overseeing human resources and technology departments.
He has lived in the Bothell area for more than 20 years. Ericks,
with wife Debbie has five daughters, ages 16 to 24
From
the Washington State Legislature, SENATE RESOLUTION 8740 By Senator
McAuliffe February 7, 2002
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/8725-8749/8740.pdf
From
the Council 2.com Published: VOLUME 16 #2 Summer 2001
Bothell calls in a cop to help in negotiations
Generally when counties or cities negotiate with a union, they
hire an outside consultant to serve as their negotiator.
But when contract talks were due to start between the City of
Bothell and Local 3845 in December, the City Manager, Jim Thompson,
looked to a member of his own staff. He called in the Police Chief,
Mark Ericks, to lead the negotiations for the City.
After all, Ericks had demonstrated his negotiating skills in
the past. A few years ago, discussions had reached an impasse
and Ericks stepped in and was able to break the logjam.
"I also have quite a long history of working with Pat Thompson
(Council 2’s Director of Legislation/Political Action),"
Ericks says.
Not only that, but Ericks knows bargaining from both sides of
the fence; he was guild president when he worked for the Bellevue
Police many years ago.
By the time the negotiations were completed in late April, members
of the Local were pleased with the new three-year contract.
"Any time you have a three-year period between contracts
it is in the best interests of all that the terms of the contract
remain fair during the course of the contract," Ericks says.
A significant aspect of the new contract is a new retirement
health savings program, sometimes referred to as a veba. Ericks
believes that the City of Bothell is one of the first cities in
the country to offer the program, provided by International City/County
Management Association (ICMA), which specializes in government
deferred compensation plans.
The plan allows an employer to contribute a percentage of the
employee’s salary to the plan. Contributions made by the
City and employees to the fund are tax-free and when the employee
draws on the plan after retirement, the income also is tax-free.
Contributions and plan earnings can be used by the retiree to
pay for all medical-related costs.
The plan might be part of future packages, too. "We are
shifting gears to try to obtain more enhanced deferred compensation
plans where the retirement plans are inadequate," Thompson
says.
As part of the negotiated package, the City will invest 1 percent
of an employee’s salary that can be used for a retiree health
care plan.
City employees also will receive raises retroactive to January
1.
"We had a great negotiating team in Jeff, Maureen and Jan.
They really delivered for their members," Thompson says.
