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Sumner mayor« Go back
Dave Enslow
Residence: Sumner
Contact: 253-863-8115
E-mail: daveenslow@msn.com
Occupation: Financial Management

Experience: * Mayor, 2006 to present * City Council, 1998-2006 * Sound Transit Board member, former Vice Chairman, 1998 to present. Representing East Pierce County * Pierce Transit Board member, former Chairman, 2004 to present representing all small cities.

Education: * Educated in Seattle Public Schools, Graduated from Garfield High School. *University of Washington, four years, English Literature

What do you see as the three top issues facing Sumner?
1. Securing more local jobs and a better sales tax base for our city. When we are able to work and buy locally, tax dollars stay in our community. 2. Protecting homes and business from river flooding. 3. Securing a new Sumner YMCA and community Center.

What measures would you support to keep your city living within its means?
The current policies are working. I will: 1. Continue to stremling city government, doing more with less. 2. Contine high quality financial management that predicts and responds to trends before they become a problem. Good management in challenging times.

Why are you the best candidate for this office?
My record as Mayor speaks for itself. In the last four years, Sumner has: 1. Balanced its budget without tax increases. 2. Merged its Fire Department with East Pierce to provide better service at less cost. 3. Developed a flood wall concept and became a partner with Pierce County to protect homes and business. 4. I am able to use my role in regional transportation groups to create partnerships with Regional and State leaders.

Personal Statement:
As Sumner's Mayor, I have listened to you and accomplished the right things. In this next term we can: 1. Deal with flooding. 2. Finish building our trail system. 3. Work together as a community to find solutions for the parking problem at the Sounder Station. Sumner has done well these last four years and I'm asking for your vote to finish this important work.

Matt Richardson
Residence: Sumner
Contact: 253-250-2566
E-mail: mhrichardson@hotmail.com
Website: richardson4mayor.org
Occupation: Teacher/Professor

Experience: Sumner City Council, 2004-present Deputy Mayor, 2006 Vice Chair, Pierce County Regional Council, 2005-present Chair, Pierce County River Revitalization Task Force, 2009 Co-Chair, Puyallup River Task Force, 2007-08 Sumner Committees- Chair, Public Works, 2004-present Public Safety,2004-06 Community Development, 2006-08 Personnel & Finance, 2008-present Sumner Planning Commission, 1998-2003 Congressional Aide to the US House of Representatives, 1996-1998 Research Analyst, Washington State Legislature, 1994-1996

Education: MA, Public Policy-Philosophy, UWT, 2003 BA, International Studies-Russian, UW, 1990 AA, History, Highline Community College, 1987 Teaching Certificate, Saint Martins University, 2004 (Math/Science, History, Social Studies, ESL, Humanities) Municipal Leadership Certificate, Association of Washington Cities, 2009

What do you see as the three top issues facing Sumner?
Flooding, Traffic/Parking, Density & Downtown When any city is faced with natural disasters, it has to be the first priority. I will focus on immediate ways to protect our at-risk population and facilities. We need to keep trucks and cars from overrunning our city. A regional parking garage should be near the Shaw Road extension, not the middle of downtown. Old downtowns die (and then neighborhoods) if they're neglected. They must be supported and revitalized.

What measures would you support to keep your city living within its means?
Of course state law requires a balanced budget, so that's a guarantee. This is the time to be cautious, but not blind to good opportunities and common sense. Cutting staff seems to be the first thing people do, but all to often, it's wasteful spending that needs the axe. I will do a more creative job in finding other areas to trim without sacrificing staff and programs that citizens really need and want to keep.

Why are you the best candidate for this office?
The current issues we face as a community are becoming very complex. This is why a more balanced and experienced mayor is required to do the things the citizens expect. People move to Sumner, and stay here, because finding a modern-Mayberry is almost impossible. With all the pressure out there to be overrun and built-up, I have the comprehensive experience it takes to meet these challenges and to preserve what we have here in Sumner.

Personal Statement:
Sumner needs a mayor with the experience and balance it takes to handle the complicated issues we face. That's why a pro-family and pro-neighborhood mayor is required to preserve our unique quality of life. This year's campaign for mayor is about whether the special interests and industrial developers should be the ones to plan for Sumner's future. I do not believe they should. I will provide new and stronger leadership with these values in mind.