Roads, parks and economic development were the prevailing themes in conversations with Covington City Councilman Jim Scott and his challenger Zbigniew G.Tomalik.

These candidates are running for Position No. 6.

Scott, who is seeking his second full term, has worked in the investment arena for 28 years. He began his career in Tacoma. Four years into his career he was promoted. The job moved him to Albany, N.Y. Then he moved to Austin, Texas. After 11 years away, he returned to the Pacific Northwest. His parents owned a home on Lake Sawyer and that drew him and his wife Sharon to Covington.

Sharon Scott injured her back while working for American Cancer Society. Her search for a job which didn’t require so much heavy lifting — those boxes of shirts for Relay for Life participants get heavy — she landed a position with the city of Covington where she has worked the past 13 years.

After they found a house in Covington, Scott said, he started going to City Council meetings. It wasn’t long before the opportunity to serve opened up.

“The city manager at the time approached me about getting on the Planning Commission because of our growth and my financial background,” Scott said. “He figured we would need to get some bonds to build the infrastructure for Costco.”

He joined the Planning Commission in 2002. He was the chairman of the commission from 2004 to 2006 before he was appointed to the City Council.

Tomalik, on the other hand, grew up in Poland. He moved to the Puget Sound region when he was 17. A few years later he bought his first home in Covington in 1983. He volunteered in the 1990s with the effort to incorporate Covington into a city, which was successful in August 1997.

His first brush with politics on a small scale was after he moved into the Woodcreek neighborhood. Tomalik made a speech to the members of the Homeowners Association, who then elected him president, a position he has held ever since.

“I enjoy helping with the neighborhood and helping the neighbors,” Tomalik said. “I just keep getting re-elected.”

In 2007, Tomalik applied to fill a vacant position on the City Council, but was not selected.

“No hard feelings whatsoever,” Tomalik said. “This year I decided to throw my name in. I’ve been around Covington for a while. I probably petitioned somewhere to get the Costco built. We’re just sort of married to Covington in various ways. We really enjoy the quality of living in Covington.”

Tomalik remembers when he first moved to the area in the early ‘80s — cows, pastures and horses were the dominant use of property then.

When he was a student, Tomalik took courses in engineering and architecture, though he didn’t earn a bachelor’s degree. Now he is the vice president of a small division of a French company. His office of 10 employees is in Kent. He also has three children. His daughter, who is 27, is now an engineer living in Honolulu, Hawaii. His sons, ages 17 and 11, still live at home.

Both candidates say they don’t have an agenda. They just want to continue the good work done thus far by the council and city staff.

Scott said he is proud of what has been accomplished since he started on the City Council.

“There’s just lots to be done,” Scott said. “In the last seven years, it’s been a lot of behind the scenes work. Then this year we had the ribbon cutting for Covington Community Park and I have to say I just felt so much pride that I was part of that. I want to have some more moments like that. Being on the council, I think I can get our city more of those moments.”

Tomalik said he doesn’t see things that need to be fixed.

“The city of Covington has been very fortunate to have really good people,” Tomalik said. “They’ve done a really good job as far as current and previous council members. They have a great city manager. I am impressed with a lot of what they’re doing. There is always an opportunity for improvement. I am very well aware of the fact that when a new person comes in they can see things that people who have been in place for a long time simply cannot see.”

Both agree the city needs to bring in more revenue. Scott is in favor of the transportation benefit district proposal, which goes to the voters in November. If approved, it would increase Covington’s sales tax from 8.6 percent to 8.8 percent, which city staff say can bring in as much as $750,000 a year to help stabilize the city’s street fund and put money back into its general fund. This could enable the city to do road work it has deferred and possibly hire more police officers.

“I think when the citizens have that information about why that (budget priorities advisory) committee came up with the sales tax, they’re going to vote to approve that in November,” Scott said.

Tomalik is not as enthusiastic about the TBD.

“I don’t like to see tax increases,” Tomalik said. “I’m still not entirely sure about how I feel about the new proposed transportation tax and therefore tax increase. I think roads should be improved. On the one hand, I see that as a necessity. On the other hand, is that a Band-Aid?”

Parks are also a high priority for both candidates.

Scott said now that the Legislature allocated $2.1 million toward the second phase of Covington Community Park it is time to plan for the rest of it.

“We need to free up some of that general fund which that new revenue would allow us to do and not only allow us to get phase two and phase three of that park but to make sure the Aquatic Center (is maintained and improved),” Scott said. “And acquiring more park property. We know we need more parks because we have what I call red areas where the community is underserved by parks.”

Scott pointed to the need to fix the bridge in Jenkins Creek Park.

“You can definitely make that another beautiful park to enjoy walking in and other activities,” Scott said.

As a dad, Tomalik said, it is important for families in the community to have places to play. He likes to ride his bicycle with his children.

“We’d like to see those trails connect, to be a little safer,” Tomalik said. “Let’s finish some of that. We have a lot of good stuff going on in Covington, so, it’s about finding ways to fund opportunities for kids and adults. Especially kids, I’m really big on kids (recreation and activities).”

As for economic development, Scott said, he is pleased with what the council has done thus far.

“I would have to say our vision for the downtown plan, sort of like a Kent Commons, but different, I’m pretty proud of that,” Scott said. “But, the downtown, that’s going to be a long, long process.”

With the potential revenue from the TBD and more economic development, which builds on the openings of several big boxes such as Home Depot, Kohl’s and Costco, of which Scott is particularly proud the city was able to accomplish, there is considerable potential for Covington’s future.

That growth is also an important issue to Tomalik.

“I support growth of the city but it should be done in a strategically intelligently planned,” Tomalik said. “I don’t want to see runaway growth. I want the city to able to attract the type of business that would make it (grow) … but more of a boutique city. Part of it is having three kids you end up going to hundreds of sporting events so you end up having dozens and dozens of conversations with parents. Why can’t we attract the kinds of businesses to the city so that we don’t have to drive downtown Seattle or the Eastside?”

Scott points to his experience on the Planning Commission and the City Council as reasons voters should consider re-electing him.

“I listen when people come to the council and speak,” Scott said. “I follow through with staff to get their issues resolved. My only agenda is a pursuit of unmatched quality of life for residents of Covington.”

Tomalik explained having a fresh perspective on the council would be valuable and that’s something he provides. His experience in business as well as his interest in providing more for families in the community are among the reasons he said voters should consider him.

“I’m big on family,” Tomalik said. “I’m big on kids.”