Currently the senior member of Bothell’s City Council with almost 12 years of service, Deputy Mayor Sandy Guinn said the chief complaint of her November opponent simply isn’t true for city residents.

A retired firefighter/medic with some 30 years of experience, Tom Agnew said he was spurred to run for council mostly after hearing at his Bothell church that a friend’s mother was afraid to dial 911. The reason? The woman didn’t want to receive what she said would be yet another bill for ambulance services.

“I just thought, ‘That’s not right,’” Agnew said, saying no resident, especially senior citizens, should be hesitant about calling for emergency medical help when it is needed.

For her part, Guinn said she not only agrees, but argued Bothell’s rules on charging for ambulances reflect that philosophy. She said Bothell charges neither residents nor non-residents for ambulance services in emergency, life-threatening situations.

Further, Bothell will not bill residents for discretionary, non-emergency ambulance service to Evergreen or Stevens hospitals. Non-residents could receive for a bill for any discretionary ambulance transportation.

For residents, Guinn said Bothell bills the patient’s insurance three times, and if no or insufficient funds are remitted, the matter is dropped. She added revenues for Bothell’s ambulance service cover about 25 percent of the total cost of the program.

Moving on to a totally different portion of the health-care arena, Agnew is one of several council challengers to take issue with the incumbent council’s decision to grant themselves health-care coverage at what Agnew said was a cost of $15,000 per council member annually.

“That package is kind of putting themselves before citizens,” Agnew said.

Agnew added he is aware Guinn had dropped the coverage — as has every other member of council — but he said Guinn did not act until after the current election campaign had gotten under way.

Guinn’s response was largely the same as other council members, specifically that the council had named a separate citizen’s committee to study council pay and benefits. Further, she stated flatly she had rejected the health-care coverage, in any case.

Guinn took special issue with Agnew’s contention that municipal spending has increased greatly on her watch.

In comments made to the Reporter and in his campaign literature, Agnew claims Bothell’s general fund spending is up 34 percent, while its personnel spending has increased about 40 percent. At the same time, Agnew notes Bothell’s population has increased only about 8 percent.

Guinn counters that the city’s ledgers show Agnew’s statements aren’t true. She said general fund spending for the two-year budget covering 2005-2006 was $74.4 million. For 2007-2008, general fund expenses were $72.1 million, a decrease, not an increase, Guinn said.

At the same time, Guinn claimed the city had added police and firefighters, as well park personnel.

In making her comments to the Reporter, Guinn first emphasized what she feels are the accomplishments she’s achieved during her time on council. She said Bothell has a 20 percent operating reserve, has never raised its property taxes while she was in office and in fact decreased utility taxes.

Moving into other topics, Agnew talked about the city needing a plan to ensure the future of its senior-citizen center. On another front, he expressed dismay council altered its downtown redevelopment plan after a public hearing on that plan was closed. Agnew contends because of those tactics, council essentially cut residents off from having any say in the final plan.

“I like the downtown plan,” he said, “I think we’re moving in the right direction. But maybe we need to slow down and take a breath.”

“This has not been a fast-paced project,” Guinn said. “It’s been going on for 10 years … Bothell is a very warm community and very family oriented community. Our development of downtown is only going to enhance that.”

“I have nothing against Sandy,” Agnew summed up. “But she’s been in office sine 1998 and maybe it’s a little time for a change.”

“I’d like to know what my opponent would do differently,” Guinn said. “I enjoy living in Bothell, I enjoy being on council.”