In the running: Three candidates vying for Kent Council post

Geoff Koepp and Barbara Phillips each want to bring a fresh perspective to the Kent City Council, while incumbent Elizabeth Albertson believes her experience makes her the best choice.

Voters will select among Albertson, Koepp and Phillips for Position No. 6 on the Aug. 18 primary ballot. The two with the most votes move on to the general election Nov. 3.

King County election officials plan to mail out ballots Wednesday. All registered voters will receive ballots in the county’s first all-mail election.

“I’m a business person and we need that perspective on the Council,” said Koepp, making his first run for an elected office, in a phone interview Thursday.

Phillips seeks to add diversity to the seven-member Council.

“The leadership should resemble its community,” Phillips said in a phone interview Friday. “I’m interested in being a part of the outreach for diversity. The demographics of the schools and city has changed over the years. The representation on the City Council does not resemble its community.”

Albertson served two years on the city Land Use and Planning Board before she was elected by voters to the Council in 2005 for a four-year term.

“I have six years of looking at planning and economic development,” Albertson said in a phone interview Friday.

The Council members are paid $13,752 per year for their part-time positions. They are elected to at-large positions. Position No. 6 is the only Council race on the primary ballot. The other two Council races have two or fewer candidates.

Here’s a look at the three candidates for Position No. 6:

Elizabeth Albertson (incumbent)

Albertson, 47, chairs the Council’s Planning and Economic Development Committee and is a member of the Council’s Parks and Human Services Committee.

“I’ll bring my four years of experience to the next four years during unprecedented economic times,” said Albertson, who does not have a job outside of her Council position. “The most important work we do will be on the next budget.”

Albertson said she’s often asked by residents for the reasons one road project gets done while another street project remains only in the planning stages. Understanding how the road-funding system works, Albertson can explain that federal funds could be available for only one of the street projects, so that work gets priority by the city.

“I have the ability to communicate how funding works and the why of how decisions are made,” Albertson said. “That’s one of my strengths.”

The Municipal League of King County rated Albertson “adequate” in its nonpartisan rankings released Thursday.

The league rates candidates outstanding, very good, good, adequate, not qualified or insufficient information.

“I feel bad about that,” Albertson said of the rating. “I was not able to participate in the interviews because they were the same week I was out of state on a family matter and then my car broke down out of town.”

Albertson completed a questionnaire from the Municipal League. She said she received a “very good” rating four years ago when she participated in an interview.

Koepp

Koepp, 38, moved to Kent in 2000 from the Burien area. He works as a financial planner for Ameriprise Financial.

“I look at the skills I have accumulated from project management and financial planning and I look at what’s going on in the city and I think I have great skills to apply to the city,” Koepp said.

Koepp wants to use his skills to help the city balance annual budgets.

“For the most part, next year will be incredibly tough with the downturn in the economy and budgets will be crunched,” Koepp said. “There will be tough decisions on what to keep and how to keep services.”

All city departments would be looked at by Koepp for potential cuts.

“There’s nothing glaring to cut now,” he said. “But everything will be on the table. Nothing is so sacred that it can’t be touched.”

Koepp also wants to speed up the city’s permit process to help attract more businesses.

The Municipal League rated Koepp “adequate,” the same as Albertson.

“It’s the highest rating of anybody out there – I’ll take it,” Koepp said. “I don’t have a lot of government background, and that’s one of the things they’re looking for.”

But Koepp figures that lack of government background could make him more attractive to voters who seek a candidate with a fresh perspective.

Phillips

Phillips, 52, moved to Kent 16 years ago from St. Louis. She works as a management program assistant for the Federal Aviation Administration in Renton. She made an unsuccessful run in the 1990s for the Kent School Board.

Phillips is in her second year on the city Land Use and Planning Board.

“I think it’s time for me to be a leader in the community, make change and reach out to all parts of the community,” Phillips said. “We need to address the needs of all members of the community.”

Phillips wants the city to provide more activities for youth.

“There’s not enough for youth to do,” she said.

Phillips also wants to look at budget priorities.

“We need to do an assessment of the true needs of the city and that those are clearly stated,” Phillips said. “We need to make budget planning and forecasting a priority and know more about the budget and not just pass it. Public safety and crime are usually the top priorities, but there are other things going on.”

Phillips spoke at the July 7 Council meeting about the need for more lighting as well as the addition of restrooms and pay phones at the Kent Transit Center. She returned to the July 21 Council meeting to ask for better road maintenance downtown near small businesses along First and Second Avenues.

The Muncipal League said it had “insufficient information” to rate Phillips.

“I chose not to participate in their interview process,” said Phillips, who declined to give a specific reason for that decision.

For The Municipal League ratings, go to www.munileague.org.