City Council bids farewell to Ranniger

The Kent City Council recognized longtime councilmember Deborah Ranniger for her service to the city on Tuesday night before Tina Budell was sworn in to fill her seat.

Ranniger announced in February she would not seek re-election.

Mayor Suzette Cooke thanked Ranniger for her contribution to the city.

“Your energy, your vision, your inclusiveness of making sure this city reaches out and recognizes the many people within our population from diverse backgrounds,” Cooke said. “You have been a real leader and doer in those things.”

Ranniger said she was grateful for the opportunity to serve the city for 12 years.

“I feel that I have made a good contributions and I feel very proud of that,” she said.

Ranniger stressed to the current council the importance of fostering inclusion, one of the city’s strategic goals.

“I truly hope in spite of the challenge you will face with the budget that you will make a place for ongoing funding to foster inclusion and have initiatives around diversity and social justice,” she said, “because if there was ever a time that was critically important, that time is now.”

Ranniger said she plans to stay involved in the community, although she isn’t sure in what capacity.

“I am guided by my passions and those are not going to change,” she said. “A lot of those passions were very much developed by the 12 years I spent here on the Kent City Council, so that remains inside of me forever, and for that, I am forever grateful.”

Ranniger said she is excited about the development of a YMCA in Kent. The city and the YMCA signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last year to build a $25 million recreational facility and pool on Southeast 248th Street, just east of 104th Avenue Southeast, in three to five years.

Ranniger has been a proponent of bringing a recreational facility to the city and was also involved in keeping the Kent-Meridian pool open.

“I am not quite sure what role I will play in helping that YMCA come to town, but I hope to stay involved in that because of the aquatic facility and what that will do,” she said. “That’s a missing piece. That is something our community really needs.

Budell, who was active in the neighborhood councils before being elected, said she appreciated Ranniger’s support in keeping that program active.

“As a citizen coming to council meetings and talking to you after council meetings, it was one of the first interactions with an elected official were I felt like my voice was heard,” Budell said. “Thank you for all you have done for the city. Thanks for listening to the average citizen and making us feel like we have a voice and we have an impact.”

Prior to Tuesday’s council meeting, the city had a reception for Ranniger. It was originally planned for the last council meeting in December, but was postponed due to Ranniger’s husband’s death last month.

Changes on the council

Budell is the only new city councilmember.

Brenda Fincher was sworn in Tuesday night for a two-year term.

She was appointed last February to replace Ken Sharp, who resigned after just two weeks in office. Fincher ran to fill the remainder of the term.

Councilmembers Bill Boyce and Dana Ralph were sworn in for their second terms and Les Thomas took the oath of office for his fourth term.

The council elected Boyce as its new council president to replace Ralph, who served two years in the position.

Boyce said he looks forward to serving the council in his new role.

“There’s a lot of pressure on me,” he said. “I am a little nervous, but I do know we are one team and we work together as a team. … I look look forward to continue having us move as one and keep us focused on the big picture and what is best for Kent.”

PHOTO BELOW:

Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke, left, administers the oath of office to new councilmember Tina Budell on Tuesday night. Heidi Sanders, Kent Reporter