Reflective, experienced and dedicated to his city – that’s what Kirkland City Council hopeful Jim Hart said about his credentials for the open council position No. 6.

A longtime Kirkland resident and land surveyor, Hart will take on incumbent Dave Asher as well as Martin Morgan for a chance at the council seat this August.

In his 80s, Hart has spent nearly 70 years in the survey business previously owned by his father and founded in Kirkland.

“I have a pretty good knowledge of just about everything in the area,” he said.

Hart previously ran for city council in 1987 and said he lost by only four votes.

“It’s unfinished business,” said Hart. “I didn’t win last time.”

He believes the big three issues facing Kirkland this election are the economy and budget, the annexation and the Parkplace zoning and construction.

“Somehow, we’ve got to make sure the downtown area comes back to life a little more. … There’s an area with too many vacant buildings in it,” said Hart.

On the economy, Hart took a stab at Asher.

“I understand that my opponent is sometimes not business oriented,” he said. “If you don’t have a retail market then you don’t have much of a city, either.”

Hart has owned his namesake surveying business for decades.

“I’ve been in business now I don’t know how many years, but when it comes to a budget, I know what it is,” said Hart.

He also positioned himself as a supporter of the city’s recent annexation of North Juanita, Kingsgate and Finn Hill.

“It’s a tremendous area,” he said. “Now the government is closer to the people; I think (the areas are) going to be great assets for the city and that the city is a great asset for them.”

So what’s his pitch?

“I know what it takes to get streets made, to get water to a place. We designed City Hall at one time, we put all of the water mains all over Rose Hill.

“You know which steps to make an area become a village and a village to become a town.”

As for his strengths and weaknesses, he was at a loss for words.

“I hadn’t thought about it that way,” he admitted. “I probably talk too much! I like to read and find out what’s good or what’s possible and not possible, and then work on the (ideas) that are going to make progress.”

Hart isn’t running on any new ideas he hopes to bring to the council, but rather dedication to the people of Kirkland and his experience with business.

“I just want to make sure that what I do is right for everybody. You can’t please everybody all the time; if it’s progressive and not expensive, then I’m for it – if it gets overly expensive, then I would vote against,” he said.

“It’s exciting to be around at this time and working on some of these things,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Contact Jim Hart at jim@jimhartassoc.com or 425-822-4171. Visit www.jimhartassoc.com.