Supplemental Questions
1. What is your vision for our City and community?
When my wife and I came back to Washington after living in Oregon for a time, our main desire was to
find a location that had that “Small Town feel”, with an actual Downtown. Sumner was a natural choice.
We previously lived in Federal Way for 17 years and the “center of town” was always “The Mall”. For
some reason, that just does not cut it! As a City Council officer, it will be my mission to do everything I
can to maintain the integrity of our Downtown corridor and find ways to enhance the experience for
visitors and residents alike. Our downtown is our heart and soul and as the Puget Sound becomes more
congested and insane, we need to protect our heart with every tool at our disposal, while at the same
time, create an environment that is welcoming and warm. Nobody wants a cold heart! The pandemic
has created challenges no one ever thought possible and it will take “all hands-on deck” to ensure that
we come out of this “event” successfully.
2. What are three highest priorities and/or issues you believe the City needs to address? How would
you propose the City address these?
• Securing Small Business success coming out of the pandemic and enticing new small business
entrepreneurs to invest in Sumner Main Street opportunities. Instill strong marketing programs
to ensure Main Street businesses have long-lasting success. Work closely with business leaders
to build a cooperative model for long term success. We are all in this together.
• Infrastructure to support growth. Continue to improve traffic issues along Valley Ave and other
high traffic areas. Make sure tax dollars are focused on the future and not just reactionary to
today’s issues. Like healthcare, we need to change the reactive nature of how we care for
future needs and be more proactive. That means thinking ten years ahead and then making
smart plans to achieve those goals.
• Go Green! Create strong community-based recycle, reuse and repurpose programs which will
be a benchmark for Main Street America communities. Support self-sufficiency by creating
community gardens throughout all neighborhoods with help with Piece County. Climate change
starts with behavior change which starts with leading by example.
3. What strengths would you bring to the Council?
• Over 30 years of business management/leadership experience
• Coach, mentor and therapist skills. Strong ability to be objective and open to fresh ideas
• Strong ability to mediate interactions
• Event coordination/development
4. Explain your current and past community involvement and/or service on City, nonprofit, or public
boards, committees, task forces, or commissions, and how this has contributed to the Sumner
community. How is this relevant to the position of Sumner City Councilmember?
• This is my first time applying for a post within Sumner. I did work in a volunteer capacity with
the City of Oregon City as part of the OC Downtown Association. I organized and developed
musical events for their annual Summer Celebration, hiring bands, stage set up and other
entertainment components during 2016
