Kent City Councilman Les Thomas to run for state Legislature

Kent City Councilman Les Thomas wants to return to Olympia as a state representative. But he’s seeking a House seat as an independent rather than a Democrat or Republican.

“I’ve been nonpartisan for 12 years,” Thomas said during a phone interview about filing for the District 33 House seat, Position 2. “When I get to Olympia I want to represent all citizens not just Democrats or Republicans.”

Thomas was reelected to the City Council in 2011 for his third four-year term in the nonpartisan position.

The race for the 33rd seat will loom as a showdown among council members from three South King County cities.

Mia Su-Ling Gregerson, D-SeaTac, will run to retain her House seat. She also serves on the SeaTac City Council. Republican Jeanette Burrage, a Des Moines City Councilwoman and former King County Superior Court judge, also filed for the seat.

The King County Council appointed Gregerson in December to the seat after Dave Upthegrove left the House to become a county councilman.

Thomas, a retired gemologist who at one time owned a Kent jewelry store, said returning to the Legislature ranked pretty high on his bucket list.

“One of my favorite times was when I ran before,” said Thomas, who served in the Legislature from 1994-99. “I loved it.”

Any race with more than two candidates will be on the Aug. 5 primary ballot. The top two advance to the Nov. 4 general election.

Candidates had until 4 p.m. Friday to file for office.

Here’s the list of candidates for federal and state seats that serve at least part of Kent:

Congress

United States Representative

Congressional District No. 8

• Dave Reichert (Republican), incumbent

• Jason Ritchie Democrat)

• Keith Arnold (Democrat)

United States Representative

Congressional District No. 9

• Adam Smith (Democrat), incumbent

• Don Rivers (Democrat)

• Mark Greene (Citizens Party)

• Doug Basler (Republican)

Legislature

District 33 House seat, Position 2:

• Jeanette Burrage (Republican)

• Mia Su-Ling Gregerson (Democrat), incumbent

• Les Thomas (Independent)

District 33 House seat, Position 1:

• Tina Orwall (Democrat), incumbent

• Michael J. Siefkes (Republican)

District 33 Senate

• Karen Keiser (Democrat), incumbent

• Martin Metz (Republican)

• Marylin J. Taylor (Democrat)

District 47 Senate

• Joe Fain (Republican), incumbent

• Carol Barber (Democrat)

District 47 House, Position No. 1

• Chris Barringer (Democrat)

• Mark Hargrove (Republican), incumbent

District 47 House, Position No. 2

• Barry Knowles (Republican)

• Pat Sullivan (Democrat), incumbent