Mark James (Marysville City Council Position 2, Washington, candidate 2025)

Mark James

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Marysville City Council Position 2

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 4, 2025

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army

Years of service

1982 - 1990

Personal

Profession

Advertising

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Mark James is running for election to the Marysville City Council Position 2 in Washington. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

James completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

To view Ballotpedia's additional coverage of James running for Snohomish County Charter Review Commissioner Board in 2025, click here. Additional coverage can be found here here.

Biography

Mark James provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on September 25, 2025:

• High school: Shadle Park
• Other: Center for Sight, Georgetown University Medical Center, 1990
• Military service: United States Army, 1982-1990
• Gender: Male
• Profession: Advertising
• Prior offices held:
  • Marysville City Council (2022-Prsnt)
  • Marysville City Council (2018-2021)
• Incumbent officeholder: Yes
• Campaign slogan: Listen. Protect. Respect. Leadership that puts your family and finances first.
• Campaign website
• Campaign Facebook

Elections

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for Marysville City Council Position 2

Chris Davis and Mark James are running in the general election for Marysville City Council Position 2 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Chris Davis (Nonpartisan)
		Mark James (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

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Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mark James completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by James' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

For over 30 years, my wife Renae and I, both U.S. Army veterans, have called Marysville home, raising our three sons—Jonathan, Matthew, and Joshua—who are now County Sheriff Deputies. Since joining the Marysville City Council in 2018, I’ve championed fiscal responsibility, public safety, and infrastructure improvements like the 1st Street Bypass, widening State Ave and expanded and improved parks, all without raising property taxes. As a professional photographer and owner of Hometown Values Savings Magazine, I’m passionate about supporting our community, volunteering with groups like the Marysville Police Foundation and Marysville Rotary, and serving on boards such as the Marysville Fire Board and Snohomish County Planning Commission. With the Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership and endorsements from Mayor Jon Nehring and County Councilmembers Nate Nehring and Sam Low, and the Marysville Fire District Local 3219.

I’m running for re-election to keep Marysville safe, vibrant, and thriving.

I’d be honored to earn your vote.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Leadership that listens to the people it serves, and responds with action, is essential to building a healthy, thriving community. In Marysville, that means more than just public safety and responsible budgeting. It also means investing in safe, clean, and well-maintained parks where families can gather, and improving transportation infrastructure to reduce congestion and ensure our roads are properly maintained. By listening first and acting with purpose, we can deliver real results that reflect the values and needs of our community.
• Protection for your family starts with leadership that listens. In Marysville, public safety is a top priority, and we are supported by a highly trained regional fire authority and a fully funded, professional police department. By combining safety, training, accountability and equipping our first responders with the tools they need, we build trust, reduce crime, and keep every neighborhood safe.
• Respect for your tax dollars begins with leadership that listens to families and businesses who expect fiscal responsibility. In Marysville, we’ve delivered balanced budgets for over a decade without raising the City’s portion of your property taxes. By growing our local economy through sound financial decisions and reduced red tape, we’re seeing increased sales tax revenue from visitors, helping to ease the burden on homeowners and keep our city financially strong.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1. Responsible Budgeting & Tax Relief

Advocating for property tax relief, fairer local tax structures, and transparent spending.
2. Public Safety
Supporting first responders, ensuring adequate staffing for police and fire, and investing in emergency preparedness.
Public safety also extends to neighborhood livability—reducing crime, drug activity, and keeping parks safe for families.
3. Economic Growth & Local Business Support
As a long-time business owner, I'm passionate about small-business development, keeping Marysville business-friendly, and creating jobs through initiatives like the Cascade Industrial Center.

Economic vitality is the engine that funds city services and keeps taxes manageable.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

City Council is the level of government that impacts your daily life the most. From the safety of your neighborhood to the condition of your roads, parks, and schools, the decisions we make together shape the future of Marysville.

As your councilmember, my job is to:
Listen and represent you — bringing your voice into every decision.
Protect your family’s priorities — public safety, strong neighborhoods, and responsible growth.
Respect your hard-earned tax dollars — passing balanced budgets and demanding accountability.

The City Council is unique because it’s the government closest to the people. We pass local laws, oversee your tax dollars, and ensure that Marysville’s needs are met — not just today, but for generations to come.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my father, who served as a firefighter in the U.S. Air Force before becoming an ordained minister and leading several churches. He even earned his Ph.D. through self-study — a testament to his discipline and lifelong commitment to learning.
Beyond his career, what inspires me most is his example of Christ-centered leadership and his strong, 67-year marriage. His life reflects dedication, service, and integrity. Those same values guide me every day as I serve our community — leading with faith, humility, and a commitment to doing what’s right for the people of Marysville.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Ability to listen and to work collaboratively toward solutions that benefit all people.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Legislating Local Laws & Ordinances.

Budget & Financial Oversight.
Public Safety & Essential Services.

Land Use, Growth, & Infrastructure

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to be remembered as a man of faith, creativity, and service — someone who embraced life fully, loved learning, and strengthened both his family and his community through a Christ-centered example.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Apollo 11 Moon Landing (July 1969, age 7).

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Newspaper delivery boy - about two years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Other than the Bible, I was really impressed with Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" - from it, I developed the belief that real strength comes from living by faith, finding purpose, and serving others with love.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Superman

Represents strength used in service, humility, and protecting community.

A “neighbor-first” hero who balances extraordinary responsibility with ordinary human values.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

One of the more recent struggles in my life has been assisting my aging parents here in Marysville. I do it out of love, commitment, and responsibility, but it has been both difficult and emotional in ways I had never experienced before. Walking with them through this season has taught me patience, compassion, and the importance of family. It has also deepened my understanding of what many other families in our community are facing as they care for their loved ones.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Most people don’t know this, but your City Council quietly makes decisions that affect your daily life — like where homes and businesses get built, how much funding police receive, and whether your tax dollars are being spent wisely. As your councilmember, I’ll make sure those decisions put Marysville families first.”

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Experience in government can help a councilmember understand budgets, policies, and procedures more quickly, which benefits the community. At the same time, it’s equally important to stay grounded as a neighbor and taxpayer, not a career politician. What matters most is combining practical knowledge of how government works with a fresh perspective that always keeps the public’s voice first.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

The most helpful skills for a city councilmember are listening, fiscal responsibility, and decision-making. You need to listen carefully to residents, weigh different perspectives, and act with fairness. You also need to understand numbers — because every policy eventually ties back to a budget, and that means protecting taxpayer dollars. Finally, leadership requires clear communication, collaboration, and the ability to solve problems in ways that strengthen the community.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?

City Council is unique because it is the closest level of government to the people. Unlike state or federal offices, councilmembers make decisions that touch daily life — from road repairs to housing, parks, and local laws. It’s also important because it serves as a check and balance on the executive branch (the mayor and staff), ensuring transparency and accountability. Most importantly, it provides a direct link between residents and the policies that shape Marysville’s future.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Mayor, Councilmembers, Marysville Fire Local 3219

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

I was able to help a senior citizen with limited means who faced a problem that was not of her own doing. A stranger had abandoned a car on her property, and the city required that it be removed. Her daughter, a friend of ours, reached out, and after making a few calls I was able to arrange for the vehicle to be removed at no cost to her. It reminded me how important it is for leaders to step in, listen, and find solutions when our residents feel stuck.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

While serving in the U.S. Army, I earned the coveted Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB) — one of the toughest awards with a pass rate under 20%. It took me three tries to succeed and that experience taught me resilience, discipline, and the value of never giving up. That experience helped shaped my belief that true leadership comes from persistence, preparation, and serving others even under pressure.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Other survey responses

Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires James completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.

• VoteWA Profile

See also

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Candidate

Marysville City Council Position 2

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