Primary election day is right around the corner, and Black Diamond residents get to choose which mayoral candidates will be moving onto the general election in November.

Vying to be their city’s next executive is Council member Tamie Deady and challengers Geoff Bowie and John Adler vying for the mayor’s seat.

The Courier-Herald asked each candidate a series of questions. Most were the same, but one was tailored to each candidate specifically.

Below are the questions and answers of each candidate, edited for space and clarity. The first answer space was given to Deady, but then candidates rotate placements in answers.

What is the biggest issue facing Black Diamond at this time?

Deady said the biggest issue facing the city now is how it will receive emergency services.

At this time, both Mountain View Fire and Rescue and the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority are interested in working with Black Diamond, but only if voters approve being annexed into their respective fire districts.

This will result in a property tax increase, but without annexation, the city would be without contracted fire or EMS response.

Adler said the biggest issue Black Diamond faces is confusion and misinformation about Oakpointe’s obligations to the city and its residents.

“… [T]hat information hasn’t always been easy for residents to find or understand,” he continued. “As a result, people are frustrated. Some feel like the developer isn’t holding up their end of the deal, while others feel the city isn’t doing enough to enforce it.”

Adler believes that the truth is somewhere in the middle, and that the city needs to make this information more available to residents.

“If I’m elected, I want to focus on rebuilding trust through better communication,” he said. “That means regular updates, clearer explanations of how the agreement works, and accountability that’s based on facts—not just rumors or assumptions. When people have clarity, we can move forward together.”

Bowie said the most pressing issue is not only growth and development, but a lack of city leadership to control it.

”Poor decisions are being made because of lack of leadership, minimal Council oversight, and outsized influence by corporate developers,” he said, adding that the city should require developers fund the additional first responder staff or schools that an increased population requires, and do more to protect the environment.

“The Mayor and my Opponents are about to make this situation worse” by failing to replace the current contract with Oakpointe, he continued. “ It would… be terrible for the whole town. Those conditions required the developer to pay for infrastructure, design the project properly and not damage the environment.”

The Ten Trails Master Plan Development will expire November 2026, and with it, many of Oakpointe’s obligations to the city. How do you plan to implement “growth should pay for growth” without a new Master Plan Development contract?

Adler said he supports the current MPD and the Oakpointe’s current vested interests.

However “… [w]e need to strengthen — not rewrite — the comprehensive plan by clarifying vague language around concurrency, infrastructure, and impact mitigation,” he continued. . “’Growth should pay for growth’ isn’t just a slogan — it’s a responsibility we must embed directly into policy before the MPD safety net disappears.”

Bowie said the council must not let the mitigation conditions in the MPD expire. Instead, it must renew and amend the agreement, as well as do better in enforcing it.

“Ten Trails residents need a New Development Agreement to ensure that they will receive the community and services they were promised,” he said. “And, the rest of the City needs a new Development Agreement to protect existing neighborhoods, businesses, and the environment.”

Deady said Oakpointe is actively working on vesting and approving the plat approvals for its remaining projects.

“These parcels once vested will be under the municipal codes and regulations that were in effect when the original Development Agreement was signed,” she said. “Once vested, Oakpointe will still be required to follow the terms outlined in that agreement ensuring compliance with the original master plan development standards.”

By the contract, Oakpointe is supposed to provide the city with various recreational spaces. However, the developer has also said it wants to re-negotiate where those spaces are located and which are no longer necessary to be built. Do you support the original MPD facility plans? Re-negotiating? Somewhere in-between, or another option not yet considered?

Bowie supports moving forward with the original MPD plans for recreational facilities.

“The Development Agreement provides for good faith negotiations and major amendments, but I do not support constructing facilities that primarily serve Ten Trails residents outside of the development,” he said.

Bowie said OakPointe picked an area at the north end of the city for some fields, then told residents that Lake Sawyer Park would be a better location.

“The developer should put their required sports fields on their own land in Ten Trails,” he added. “While the Developer maneuvers, and the Mayor dithers, kids are growing up without these recreational facilities.”

Deady also supports moving forward with the original plans., and not build new facilities in the Lake Sawyer Regional Park.

“While the development agreement does allow Oakpointe the option to build parks elsewhere within the City of Black Diamond with Council approval, I do not believe Lake Sawyer Regional Park is the right location especially not for the first phase of Oakpointe’s parks,” she said. “The Lake Sawyer Regional Park area is secluded and lacks walkable access from neighborhoods in Black Diamond.”

Deady also noted that moving recreational facilities to city property will put the burden of maintenance and operations on Black Diamond residents. She also brought up the issue of congestion, which is already a problem on Lake Sawyer Road.

“This isn’t about opposing recreation, it’s about being responsible,” she continued. “If Oakpointe builds its parks within the MPDs, then it also stays responsible for maintaining them. Ensuring new parks don’t become unfunded burdens on the city.”

Adler said he’s interested in re-negotiating with Oakpointe.

“Some of these development agreements are decades old, and the city has changed. We’ve already seen what happens when both sides can’t agree to an audible,” he continued, noting the new — but empty — fire station 99. “… The goal should always be building a city that actually works for the people who live here.”

Black Diamond mostly relies on property taxes to operate. However, the city’s current tax rate is $1.34 per $1,000 in APV out of a maximum of $3.10. Is this tax rate enough to continue providing necessary city services to its residents while the costs of services rise faster than the city can collect taxes? Or do you support a full or partial lid lift? What other funding sources may you consider?

Adler said“Our city’s heavy reliance on property taxes isn’t sustainable — not because our current rate is too low, but because our revenue base is too narrow … I think we need to focus on diversifying our revenue first — supporting smart commercial development, revitalizing our historic core, and encouraging the kind of growth that brings jobs and services into town.”

He added that he’s heard from business owners that the city’s policies can be hard to navigate, and that the city should focus on investing in its rich mining history in order to draw tourists.

“Black Diamond’s history is one of its greatest strengths,” he said. “With thoughtful planning and leadership that listens, we can grow in a way that honors our past and builds a strong future.”

Bowie said the city is facing a financial crisis due to little enforcement of the Oakpointe MPD and the deteriorated relationship with Mountain View Fire and Rescue, which may result in the city being annexed into a fire district and increasing property taxes.

“If annexation passes, I’ll support reducing the city’s current real estate property tax so residents aren’t double-charged,” he said, adding that “tax and fee increases should be a last resort, not a band-aid for poor planning.”

Deady said she’s proud that the city is both able to have a lower property tax rate than other nearby cities and that they can support its own police department.

She laid the blame on the lack of increased revenue on Oakpointe.

“The developer was expected to boost our tax base by bringing in businesses, but they’re years behind,” she said. “We need to keep pushing for full buildout of the Ten Trails business center and prioritize attracting more businesses citywide to help fund services and ensure that our amazing police department stays strong.”

INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS

Bowie: It appears you live close, if not right next door, to Fire Station 99. Additionally, both Mountain View Fire and Rescue and the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority have pledged to man the station, if the city is annexed. Given these facts, why should voters believe this is not a conflict of interest for you?

Bowie did not address his proximity to the fire station, but continued his criticism of how the current council and executive handled the fire station situation.

“Oakpointe built a fire station on a cost-plus, no ceiling contract with the City to allow their Ten Trails development to expand. The city had no plans to staff the station. After construction, the mayor and council said the station is in the wrong location,” Bowie said. “… I fully support using this Fire Station as a Fire Station. We must go forward. More city facilities will need expansion with growth, and I will ensure we don’t make similar mistakes as were made with the fire service.”

Deady: You voted to approve a new fire station to be built on Lawson Hills. However, the station is uninhabited and the project has been criticized as a waste of hundreds of thousands of dollars in public funds. Can you explain why so much money was spent on a fire station that cannot be used? Why should residents vote for you after approving this project?

Deady said this was not just a city initiative, but a required component of the current Oakpointe contract with Black Diamond.

“During the design and placement stages, this project was done in close cooperation with Mountain View Fire and Rescue, the City of Black Diamond, and Oakpointe,” she said. “The goal was to ensure that as homes were built and families moved in, emergency services would be nearby… Public safety is essential, and I will work diligently to make sure our city has the facilities and staffing it needs to keep all our residents safe.”

Deady added that since the station was built, both MVFR and the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority have pledged to staff the station if Black Diamond is annexed into a fire district.

She noted the next meeting about annexation is Aug. 7.

Adler: You’re the only candidate without election/public office experience. Additionally, the majority of the council will also be fairly new in their seats. Why should residents vote for you when you have no experience running a city, let alone running a city with an unexperienced council?

Adler touted his 20 years of experience at his Fortune 500 company (which he preferred to remain unspecified) managing 82 retail locations, 900-plus employees, and millions in annual revenue.