• Joseph Cimaomo Jr.

Joseph Cimaomo Jr. decided to run for Covington City Council for his 3-year-old son.

“I want a place where (his son) can play his heart out until dinner’s ready,” Cimaomo said. He added that while there are trails and areas to hike at they appeal more to adults and teenagers than to kids.

A department manager at Lowe’s in Bellevue, 25-year-old Cimaomo stated he intends to run in this upcoming fall election in an effort to see more parks in the city where younger children would be able to play sports such as baseball and football.

The only places he feels are currently suitable are at the local middle and high schools where grounds keepers would tell them that they weren’t allowed to be on the premises. With no where else to go, Cimaomo felt compelled to change that.

Although the city of Covington acquired 30 acres of Cedar Creek in 2003 it is mostly wetlands and has no fields for sports.

The lack of parks with such facilities, Cimaomo believes, takes away an important part of a childhood experience.

Cimaomo said  if elected he plans to work public safety issues as well.

He is running for Position No. 1, currently held by Marlla Mhoon.

Cimaomo said that there was no specific reason he chose to run for her seat.

For Cimaomo, Covington has been a part of his life since he was 13, having graduated from Kentwood High in 2005. He also attended Highline Community College in Seattle, graduating in 2009 with a degree in general studies, the same year he and his wife settled in Covington.

Although he admitted he lacks the experience Mhoon possesses, Cimaomo believes that his passion for improving the city will make up for it.

• Marlla Mhoon

Covington City Councilwoman Marlla Mhoon has stated she intends to run for reelection this fall.

“I absolutely love being a representative of the citizens of Covington,” she said in a phone interview. “I’m very involved and want to continue the work.”

Mhoon, who currently holds Position No. 1 on the City Council, has been involved in numerous local projects, including Vote Yes for Covington’s Future, Tahoma School District bond and levy campaigns, Campfire, Seattle Sea Kayak Club, Mountaineers Outdoor Ethics Committee and Project Leave No Trace, formerly known as Scouting Ahead.

Mhoon teaches fifth grade in the Tahoma School District.

She has served on the Covington City Council since 2006. Mhoon was appointed to fill a seat vacated by Rebecca Clark, who had served on the council since the city was incorporated in 1997, after serving for nearly a year on the city’s Planning Commission.

When Mhoon chose to apply for the vacant seat in early 2006 she told The Reporter that it felt like the next step for her and she had often been one of those residents who attended meetings whenever there was a hot button issue.

For the past five years she’s been on the dais listening to concerned citizens during debates of numerous issues.

In the 2007 election, she ran unopposed and carried 96 percent of the votes.

Covington City Council members are elected at-large and do not represent specific districts, according to information on the city’s website, and thus all residents of the city can vote in each race.

Council members serve staggered four year terms with elections held in odd numbered years.

According to the King County Elections Office website, the in-person and online filing period for candidates begins at 8:30 a.m., Monday June 6 and will end at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 10.

Candidates may file by mail starting May 20.