Kent voters will have a lot local leaders to consider this year in races for mayor, three City Council seats and three Kent School Board positions.
Two King County Council races that include portions of the city of Kent also will be on the ballot.
Candidates had until 4 p.m. Friday, May 21 to file this week with King County Elections. The two candidates with the most votes in the Aug. 3 primary election advance to the Nov. 2 general election.
The showdown for mayor will be between incumbent Dana Ralph and challenger Dawn Bennett. Ralph has raised $37,609 so far and Bennett $30,373, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Ralph is seeking a second four-year term.
Incumbent city council members Toni Troutner and Brenda Fincher each will face two challengers. Cliff Cawthon and La’Keshia Christian filed to take on Troutner. Larry Hussey and Bradley Cairnes are challenging Fincher. Incumbent Satwinder Kaur will be challenged by Todd Minor.
School board
Denise Daniels and Maya Vengadasalam decided against running for reelection but plenty of people filed to replace them.
Sara Franklin, Tim Clark, Chad McClung and George Alvarez filed for the District No. 5 position. Bradley Kenning, Awale Farah, Bryon Madsen and Willie Middleton Sr. filed for the District No. 4 seat. Joe Bento, appointed by the board to the District No. 1 seat earlier this year, is running unopposed.
County council
Incumbent Reagan Dunn faces three challengers for District No. 9. They are Kim-Khanh Van, Ubax Gardheere and Chris Franco.
Incumbent Dave Upthegrove in District No. 5 faces off against Shukri Olow.
ELECTION 2021
City of Kent
• Mayor
*Dana Ralph
Dawn M. Bennett
• Council Position No. 2
*Satwinder Kaur
Todd Minor
• Council Position No. 4
*Toni Troutner
Cliff Cawthon
La’Keshia Christian
• Council Position No. 6
Larry Hussey
Bradley Cairnes
*Brenda Fincher
Kent School District
• Director District No. 1
*Joseph (Joe) Bento
• Director District No. 4
Bradley Kenning
Awale Farah
Bryon Madsen
Willie Middleton Sr.
• Director District No. 5
Sara Franklin
Tim Clark
Chad McClung
George Alvarez
King County Council
• Council District No. 5
*Dave Upthegrove
Shukri Olow
• Council District No. 9
Kim-Khanh Van
*Reagan Dunn
Ubax Gardheere
Chris Franco
*Incumbent
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