Banners, T-shirts, slogans in bid for new UW campus

EVERETT -- The campaign is heating up in Everett, Marysville and Lake Stevens, but not for the November election.

People are making up slogans and printing T-shirts and banners to promote their communities as the best choice for the next University of Washington campus.

Among the crowd at a town hall meeting in Everett where state and university officials reported on their progress on choosing a site were dozens of people wearing T-shirts proclaiming "Real Huskies Go North (of Everett)."

A banner supporting the two Everett sites listed 80 businesses -- from The Boeing Co. to Zippy's Java Lounge -- that want to see the campus in Everett.

Dozens of people got in line to speak at the forum, some strongly advocating for a specific site and others just happy to see the university coming to Snohomish County.

"It's going to change the entire area," said Nomi Kranick, a real estate agent who lives in Everett and works in Marysville, and whose 13-month-old son, James, wore a UW-Everett sticker.

State officials said their decision will be based on how each of the final four sites fulfills selection criteria -- such as proximity to housing and jobs related to the academic programs; site conditions; access to public transportation and utilities.

Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson suggested something else to consider -- community fundraising to support the school.

"The city of Everett has a long and generous history of contribution and community building," he said, adding that the families of the region know they will need to support the university by paying for scholarships, buying equipment and supplying a nurturing living environment.

Linda Byrnes, Arlington school superintendent, urged the evaluation team to consider the amount of land available for future expansion. The north-county site has more than 350 acres. "You need to think out about 100 years," she said.

Snohomish Mayor Randy Hamlin advocated the Lake Stevens site as his first choice, but said he's just glad the UW is coming.

"My hat's off to the region," he said. "Whatever site it is, I'm ecstatic, and the people of Snohomish are ecstatic."