Arlington Fly-In Director To Lead Small Community

ANN has learned that Barbara Tolbert, who serves as executive director for the very successful Arlington Fly-In in the Seattle suburb, has been elected Mayor of Arlington in balloting held Tuesday.

Tolbert won 1,290 votes of the 2,365 cast in the race, or 54.55 percent. She defeated Steve Baker in the race to succeed Margaret Larson, who retired after two terms in the office. The two candidates advanced to a run-off election in vote-by-mail balloting in August as the top vote-getters.

As in many small communities, the city budget was a leading issue in the campaign. Tolbert a member of the city's Airport Commission, faced a strong challenge from Baker, a member of the Arlington City Council. She told the Everett, WA Herald newspaper in October that she plans to poll people about city services to determine which ones the electorate thinks are essential and which ones can be handled by outside agencies or volunteers. 

According to her campaign website, Tolbert ran on a platform of Economic development that supports businesses and stimulates job growth; Ensuring  safety in our community; Preserving and promoting those aspects which make Arlington such a great place to live, and; and Delivering responsive government to benefit our citizens. She had been endorsed by the retiring Mayor as well as the Arlington police and fire unions.

The Arlington Fly-In, thought to be the third-largest of its type in the nation, is also recognized as one of the most successful.

FMI: www.arlingtonwa.gov