August primary draws races for Kent City Council, mayor

The Aug. 1 primary election has drawn races for two Kent City Council positions as well as mayor.

Satwinder Kaur, Jeff Piecewicz, Paul Addis and Elizabeth T. Peang filed for the City Council Position No. 2 to replace Jim Berrios, who is running for mayor.

For Position No. 4 on the council, Tye Whitfield, Ronald Johnson and Toni Troutner will vie to replace Dennis Higgins, who decided not to seek another term.

In the race for mayor, Berrios is joined by fellow Councilmember Dana Ralph, as well as former Councilwoman Elizabeth Albertson and political newcomer Andrew Swansen,in the bid to succeed Suzette Cooke as mayor. Cooke decided not to seek a fourth four-year term. Her term ends Dec. 31.

The two candidates in each race with the most votes in the primary election advance to the Nov. 7 general election ballot.

Filings closed at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

The November general election will also feature a race for City Council Position No. 6. Kent School Board member Russell L. Hanscom is challenging Brenda Fincher.

Karli Kristine Jorgensen and Glenn M. Phillips are each running unopposed to retain their posts as municipal court judges for the city of the Kent.

The August primary will feature a three-way race for the Kent School Board District No. 4 seat.

Bryon Madsen and Denise Daniels filed for the seat, as did incumbent Agda Burchard. Maya Vengadasalam will run unopposed to keep her District No. 5 position.

For the Soos Creek Water and Sewer District, Merle Reeder, Micah Steinhauer and Alan Eades have filed for Commissioner Position No. 2. Reeder was recently appointed to replace Larry West, who died in March after three years as a commissioner. Steve Pfaff will run unopposed for the Commissioner Position No. 1 on the board.

Dave Upthegrove is running unopposed to to keep his District No. 5 seat on the King County Council.