Ken Sharp, owner of Minuteman Press in Kent, said he will run for Kent City Council Position No. 6, held by Elizabeth Albertson.
Sharp served last year as president of the Kent Chamber of Commerce. He has owned Minuteman Press for 10 years.
“I’ve been involved in the community since I came here, have a business in town and been active in Kiwanis, Rotary and city committees,” Sharp said. “I’ve had leadership positions. And running a business I can see the big picture and know when you have to compromise. The current council gets polarized with strict views one way or another and cannot see the big picture and not reach a compromise for what’s best for the city overall.”
Sharp said with three councilmembers up for re-election, he didn’t want to run against Dennis Higgins because he has “done a terrific job.” He didn’t want to take on Jim Berrios for Jamie Perry’s open spot, so he chose to go for Albertson’s seat. Albertson has not yet announced if she is running again.
Sharp was one of three residents appointed by the council last summer to write a statement for the Voters Pamphlet in favor of the six-year property tax increase to repair city parks and streets that appeared on the November ballot. Voters defeated the measure. He served on city’s Transportation Master Plan Committee in 2011.
Sharp announced in May 2011 a run for council but then withdrew because he had not lived in Kent long enough to run for a position after moving from Tacoma.
“I hadn’t lived in the city over a year so I had to withdraw,” he said.
Candidates can officially file May 13-17 with King County Elections, although many declare earlier and must file with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission once they announce their candidacy, place ads or raise campaign funds. The Primary Election is Aug. 6 and the General Election Nov. 5. The two candidates with the most votes in the Primary advance to the General Election.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
