Troutner to run for Kent City Council

Toni Troutner will try a second time to get elected to the Kent City Council.

Troutner, who lost a close race to Brenda Fincher for a council seat in 2015, announced on Tuesday that she will seek Position No. 4, an open seat after Councilman Dennis Higgins said earlier this month he will not seek re-election.

Troutner said in a media release that she has an extensive background of community service and advocacy. She works as a market research analyst with a small business in Kent.

She has served Kent residents as a local PTSA president, commissioner on the Civil Service Commission of the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority (formerly Kent RFA), Drug Free Coalition member, board member of the Kent Downtown Partnership and leader at Kent’s severe weather shelter.

“As a Kent resident, volunteer, mother and neighbor I realize that Kent simply deserves better,” Troutner said in her media release. “Kent residents pay millions upon millions of dollars in taxes and fees and we deserve a much larger return on our investment. Taxpayers across our city are asked to pay more and more and yet our basic quality of life doesn’t significantly improve.”

Troutner said she will emphasize tighter city budget control.

“As your council member I believe it is my job to ensure that local government is living within its means,” she said. “I support investment in high quality services but I also support being a better steward of taxpayer dollars and budget prioritization.

“Volunteering in our schools, neighborhoods and at the serve weather shelter has shown me first hand that we have residents struggling to provide basic necessities for their families. The least we can do as government is ensure their hard earned money and taxes are providing them the return on investment they deserve. We should be looking for ways to make life easier for individuals, families and seniors who call Kent home.

“I live here, have raised my family here and plan to call Kent my home forever. We have a responsibility to the 120,000 residents, hundreds of city staff members and the taxpayers of Kent to ensure each voice is brought to the table and that we deliver high quality city services. We must expand our police department, ensure our roads are maintained and inviting to guests and renew our commitment to parks and human services.”

So far nobody else has announced to run for Position No. 4. Tye Whitfield plans to run for Position No. 2. Council members Dana Ralph and Jim Berrios will run for mayor.

Filing week for candidates is May 15-19 with King County Elections. A few Kent candidates have filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission but have not formally announced campaigns for mayor or the council.

If more than two candidates contend for a council race, the position will be on the Aug. 1 primary ballot. The top two candidates advance to the Nov. 7 general election, which also will include races with only two candidates.

Council members are considered part-time positions and receive $14,808 per year. They are elected at-large, meaning they do not represent a specific geographical area.