Les Thomas, a two-term incumbent on the Kent City Council, faces off against challengers Nancy Skorupa and Jim Bennett for Position No. 3 on the Aug. 16 primary ballot.
Ballots will show up in mailboxes this week. The two candidates with the most votes advance to the Nov. 8 general election. Ballots must be returned by Aug. 16.
Here is a look at the three candidates for Position No. 3.
Skorupa is a first-time candidate interested in improving relations with the business community and promoting accountability in city government.
The 47-year-old Skorupa has lived in Kent for 23 years. She is married with three adult children.
“I am running because I want more business representation on the council,” Skorupa said. “It seems like the business community is always in the reactive mode.”
Skorupa owns Renaissance Yarns at Kent Station. She has been a business owner for the past five years.
The candidate said the recent property tax issue concerning money the city used to balance the budget that was previously used for the fire department has become an issue in her campaign.
“At first businesses were concerned,” Skorupa said. “But now I am hearing it from residents. There has been some lack of transparency by this council.”
Skorupa said she is running on fiscal responsibility and proper stewardship of tax dollars.
Bennett has been around the council block before. He served on the Kent City Council from 1990-97. He said he stepped down because of health reasons.
“I’m very dedicated and passionate in what I’m doing,” Bennett said. “I feel I’m ready for the chase again.”
The 70-year-old Bennett has lived in Kent since 1952, graduating from Kent-Meridian in 1959. He was a partner in a fire protection business, and worked as a consultant after retiring.
Bennett said he was running because, “I’m kind of tired of the way people do things sometimes. I’m not very happy with the way the city does things.”
Bennett said he thought council members don’t “pay much attention to voters after they get elected.”
He said he wants to see more police fighting crime and less “writing tickets to fill coffers.”
He said he has had many, “great experiences with employees of the city, but there is some nepotism and taking care of buddies.”
Les Thomas
Twice is not enough for Thomas who is seeking a third term.
The 65-year-old councilman was born in Kent and raised in the city.
He served as a 31st District state representative in the mid-1990s and one year on the King County Council.
Thomas said he is running for council again because, “It is increasingly clear the taxpayers need to be represented on the council. I feel close to the people who put me in office and I think I’ve done a good job representing them.”
The issue over the property tax funds used to balance the budget that was used for the fire department before the Regional Fire Authority was formed has become a central issue in his campaign.
Thomas made a motion at the June 21 council meeting asking the members to consider a reduction in the 2012 property tax assessment from $1.48 per 1,000 to $1.10 per $1,000.
The motion failed as did an amendment to send it back to the Operations Committee.
Thomas was removed as chair of the Operations Committee after bringing the motion to the council.
Council President Jamie Perry said he was removed for violating council procedures. The procedure is all issues that are presented to the council go through a committee first.
“There was a price to pay,” Thomas said. “That’s the way the game is played. But I drew a line in the sand for the taxpayers I represent.”
Thomas also pointed to the successes of council over the past eight years including the annexation of Panther Lake as well as the construction of the ShoWare Center and Kent Station.
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