Dave Asher has been the chair of the North Rose Hill Neighborhood Association and co-chair of the Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods. He has also served citizens for more than a decade by helping to guide the Kirkland City Council from his Position No. 6 seat.

He is seeking his fourth term on the council because he feels he has a lot left to contribute.

“I am still having fun,” said Asher. “I enjoy having a voice and helping to build our community. I want to fundamentally contribute to the future of Kirkland.”

Asher is passionate about his responsibilities as a council member and he takes them seriously. One of the biggest issues he sees for the next term is reminding people that annexation began on June 1 and it is a long process to get it right.

“Annexation isn’t over and I am surprised that that is more of a new idea than I originally expected,’” said Asher. “Some in the city think it is over. But it will take a decade to find the equilibrium for this larger Kirkland. There is still a lot of fundamental work to be done.”

The incumbent said his experience on the neighborhood association with the North Rose Hill annexation taught him some valuable lessons.

“The city had not planned well and it took us to force some issues,” said Asher. “This is a long-term issue. I have been there and I am sensitive to the challenges in the new neighborhoods.”

Another challenge that Asher foresees is the continuing struggles of the economy.

“We don’t drive our own train on this one,” said Asher. “There are a lot of things we don’t have control over.”

He would like to see the city continue to be diligent in tracking to make sure tax dollars go where they are most needed.

“We have to be even more effective,” said Asher. “We have seen the county, state and federal levels of government withdraw from areas we have traditionally depended on.”

But Asher says the city needs to step it up with its business development. He points to the city not being rated very well on its performance in that area.

“We say that we are open for business, but we need to show that,” said Asher. “We need to look at tax breaks for those who are growing their business and not charge them for that growth. We need to let them grow for a longer time and then share in their recovery.”

He said he will push for the city to have better communication with new businesses.

“We need to ask ‘what are we doing right and what do you need?’”

He also wants to see the city do a better job of gauging its own results and not just efforts.

“We need to work for outcomes,” said Asher. “We need to take control of our goals and measure the results.”

Part of gauging the results is for the city to be more transparent in how it conducts business. Asher said that transparency will allow the city to serve its citizens better.

“People are much more ready to support things if they understand what is going on.”

He views his ability to communicate with the various Kirkland neighborhoods as his biggest strength. But he is humble enough to admit when he makes a mistake.

“There was an issue where I voted ‘no’ and everyone else voted yes,” said Asher, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel who served in the regular Army for 21 years as an aviator, infantryman, and long-range planning officer. “I found out later that I did not understand the full context. I am pretty proud of doing my homework on the issues, so that was tough.”

But the biggest thing he is proud of from his nearly 12 years on council is when the members work together.

“Individual council members don’t do much, we do things as a team,” said Asher, who has been involved in drafting the city code of ethics. “I am proudest when we are able to work together and move issues forward.”

Contact Dave Asher at 425-681-3283 or visit www.daveasher.org.