Bud Sizemore, a Kent firefighter and former Covington City Council member, announced Tuesday that he will challenge state Rep. Mark Hargrove, R-Covington, for the State House District 47 Position 1 seat.
Sizemore, now of Kent, served from May 2004 to June 2008 on the Covington City Council. He was appointed in 2004, elected in 2005 and then resigned with 18 months left in his four-year term to devote more time to his family and work.
The election Primary is Aug. 7 while the General Election is Nov. 6.
Here is the media release Sizemore, a Democrat, emailed:
As an 18-year professional firefighter, Sizemore has helped provide fire suppression, emergency medical services, instruction in CPR as well as disaster and fire safety education. He is also the founder and first director of the Kent Firefighters Foundation (the charitable arm of the Kent Firefighters Union), and managed their Toys for Joy Program for four years providing meals and thousands of toys to families in Kent and Covington. As a Covington City Council member and Mayor Pro-Tem he worked with local citizens to protect vital services and promote smart economic growth.
“I have committed my professional life to keeping our communities safe and protecting our quality of life,” said Sizemore in the media release. “The priorities of our families—from public safety to great schools and family wage jobs should never be on the chopping block. While my opponent has consistently voted against protecting these basics, I’ll protect these core services.”
While serving on the Covington City Council, Sizemore worked to protect children’s services, provide parks and open space and stabilize city finances by broadening its tax base. An advocate for managed growth in both residential and commercial areas, during Sizemore’s time on the council, Covington experienced a state leading 13.8 percent annual growth in its retail core.
“Our region is a great place to live, work and raise a family,” said Sizemore. “We need to do more to promote our communities as a great place to locate sustainable family wage jobs. We need to support teachers, reduce class sizes and make sure we are providing affordable college and vocational opportunities so our young people—and our economy— can thrive.”
Sizemore points to the recent budget disagreements in Olympia as further example of misguided priorities and partisan bickering that has led to gridlock and will seek to bring a consensus building approach in upcoming sessions.
“Proposals to end antiquated tax breaks like closing the loophole for out of state banks should be no brainers yet hard line partisans like my opponent refuse to side with local families over Wall Street banks,” said Sizemore. “I think voters are tired of excuses and obstructionism and I plan to be out in our community with an open ear listening to what citizens care about – not lobbyists and other special interests.”
Sizemore has received early endorsements from the Kent Firefighters Local 1747 and the Fraternal Order of Police as well as local elected officials Kent City Council President Dennis Higgins, Covington Mayor Margaret Harto, House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan, D-Covington and former State Senator Claudia Kauffman.
You can visit his campaign website at www.budsizemore.com.
Sizemore lives in Kent and works for the Kent Fire Department. His wife Sally is a registered occupational therapist. Bud is the father of three and recently became a grandfather of twin girls joining his first grandson.
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