Councilman Hatloe to retire at end of year EVERETT - City Councilman Arlan Hatloe surprised everyone last week by announcing his retirement at the end of the year.
Hatloe, 73, will be stepping down with one year left in his third term in office. He said he’s leaving to enjoy a full retirement and spend the winter with his wife in warmer parts of the country.
The council will appoint someone to Hatloe’s position to fill the remainder of his term and will determine that appointment process this week. The city council administration office is taking applications for the opening.
Whoever is appointed would serve through Hatloe’s term ending next November.
Hatloe said he’d like to see former interim councilwoman Gigi Burke or someone with similar dedication to the city to take his spot. He said Burke had planned to run for his seat next November.
Burke said last week she’d be happy to be appointed. The council selected her in June to fill the late Councilman Drew Nielsen’s spot; her appointment ended two weeks ago. Newly elected Councilman Scott Bader took that seat last week.
Bader’s main competitor in the election, June Robinson, said last week she wants onto the council but didn’t think she’d apply.
Hatloe joined the council in 2001 after then-mayor Frank Anderson and colleagues pressed him to run. He spent months cringing at council decisions to his wife before running for office.
His colleagues selected him council president six months into his first term. He held the position of president, the council member who sets the agenda and mediates meetings, three times in his 11 years on council.
From the dais he pushed through budgetary mandates requiring the city to create a reserve fund policy. He said the reserve fund mandate is helping Everett withstand the Great Recession today.
Hatloe said one of his biggest achievements, though, was working closely on the Comcast Arena from its concept to completion in 2003.
His other achievements include introducing streaming Internet video of council meetings, investing $2 million to improve the Police Department and setting up the city’s graffiti program.
One of the most difficult things Hatloe faced was dealing with what he called single-issue activists who don’t represent a broad number of voices in the city, he said.
He said neighbors objecting to the Providence Regional Medical Center Everett’s new tower is one example, calling a lot of their reasons to stop the project “bogus.” The 12-story, $460 million tower finished construction last year. Neighbors objected to its height and the extra traffic it created.
“I have to wonder what they think when they need medical care,” Hatloe said.
The Hatloes are a long-time name in Everett. Hatloe’s family came to Snohomish County in 1905 from Norway. His father and grandfather opened a paint and home decor store bearing their family name in 1939, first opening in the McCrossen Building at the corner of Hewitt and Oakes avenues. That building burned down in a fire last month.
Hatloe ran the business for more than 40 years, building his business acumen. His two sons now run Hatloe’s, which is now located on north Rucker Avenue.
It was known around the city that Hatloe wasn’t going to run for re-election, but his early resignation surprised colleagues last week.
“It’s time to move on, but I’ve really enjoyed it,” Hatloe said about his time on council.
People can submit applications for Hatloe’s position to the council administration office, 2930 Wetmore Ave., Suite 9A, Everett, WA 98201.
