Kent City Councilmember Kaur to run for state House seat

Kent City Councilmember Satwinder Kaur announced Monday her campaign for state Representative in the 47th Legislative District.

Kaur, a Democrat, is running to succeed Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, who is retiring after a 16-year career in the Legislature at the end of his term on Jan. 11, 2021. Kaur, who was elected to the City Council in 2017, is in the third year of a four-year term.

Kaur vows to fight for her constituents, ensuring their safety and livelihoods. The 47th District includes Covington and parts of Kent, Auburn, Federal Way and Renton.

She questions King County’s decision to turn a former Kent motel into an emergency isolation and quarantine facility amid coronavirus crisis.

“While other regions in King County prosper, our communities are becoming an afterthought,” Kaur said in a news release. “This is even more evident by placing a permanent quarantine facility in Kent. It can be hard to believe our community can thrive as incomes stagnate, housing costs continue to rise and traffic gets worse. I believe that Auburn, Covington and Kent has tremendous potential and deserve good paying jobs, affordable housing and high quality schools for our kids. But that potential can only be met if we roll up our sleeves and focus on these urgent challenges.”

Satwinder grew up in South King County and graduated from Kentridge High School. She attended Highline College in Des Moines and received an MBA in technology management from the University of Washington. She works in the tech industry for a private company in Auburn. She spends her spare time volunteering in parks, community centers and schools.

She also serves with regional and local organizations: Kent Rotary; mentor with Communities in Schools of Kent; Kentwood PTSA; state and federal policy committee, Association of Washington Cities; Puget Sound Clean Air Agency Advisory Council, chair; King County Growth Management Planning Council; King County Domestic Violence Regional Task Force; MultiCare South King Regional Board; and KentHope.

In the past, she has served with the Kent Cultural Communities Board, chair; Kent Parks, Green Kent Park steward; Greater Kent Historical Society, board of trustees; Living Well Kent, board of directors; and the mayor’s Diversity Task Force, city of Renton, member; Puget Sound Access, board member; PTA secretary, Sunrise Elementary School; and Meridian Middle School PTA.

“I believe strongly in community and public service. I believe public service is about ensuring every person feels like they have a place and a purpose in our community,” Kaur said. “I’m excited to take that service to the next level as your next state Representative.”

Satwinder and her husband Amar, a Boeing engineer, live in Kent where they are raising their two sons. The oldest is a freshman in Kentwood High, the same high school Amar attended, while the youngest enjoys playing with his grandparents.

Kaur starts her campaign with the endorsements from King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove; Dennis Higgins, former Kent City Council member), Marcie Maxwell, former state Rep.; State Rep. Steve Bergquist, D-Renton and several council members from the cities of Auburn, Covington and Kent, who were not named in the news release.