Troutner to run for Kent City Council

  • Tuesday, February 21, 2017 12:22pm
  • News
Troutner to run for Kent City Council

Toni Troutner will try a second time to get elected to the Kent City Council.

Troutner, who lost a close race to Brenda Fincher for a council seat in 2015, announced on Tuesday that she will seek Position No. 4, an open seat after Councilman Dennis Higgins said earlier this month he will not seek re-election.

Troutner said in a media release that she has an extensive background of community service and advocacy. She works as a market research analyst with a small business in Kent.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

She has served Kent residents as a local PTSA president, commissioner on the Civil Service Commission of the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority (formerly Kent RFA), Drug Free Coalition member, board member of the Kent Downtown Partnership and leader at Kent’s severe weather shelter.

“As a Kent resident, volunteer, mother and neighbor I realize that Kent simply deserves better,” Troutner said in her media release. “Kent residents pay millions upon millions of dollars in taxes and fees and we deserve a much larger return on our investment. Taxpayers across our city are asked to pay more and more and yet our basic quality of life doesn’t significantly improve.”

Troutner said she will emphasize tighter city budget control.

“As your council member I believe it is my job to ensure that local government is living within its means,” she said. “I support investment in high quality services but I also support being a better steward of taxpayer dollars and budget prioritization.

“Volunteering in our schools, neighborhoods and at the serve weather shelter has shown me first hand that we have residents struggling to provide basic necessities for their families. The least we can do as government is ensure their hard earned money and taxes are providing them the return on investment they deserve. We should be looking for ways to make life easier for individuals, families and seniors who call Kent home.

“I live here, have raised my family here and plan to call Kent my home forever. We have a responsibility to the 120,000 residents, hundreds of city staff members and the taxpayers of Kent to ensure each voice is brought to the table and that we deliver high quality city services. We must expand our police department, ensure our roads are maintained and inviting to guests and renew our commitment to parks and human services.”

So far nobody else has announced to run for Position No. 4. Tye Whitfield plans to run for Position No. 2. Council members Dana Ralph and Jim Berrios will run for mayor.

Filing week for candidates is May 15-19 with King County Elections. A few Kent candidates have filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission but have not formally announced campaigns for mayor or the council.

If more than two candidates contend for a council race, the position will be on the Aug. 1 primary ballot. The top two candidates advance to the Nov. 7 general election, which also will include races with only two candidates.

Council members are considered part-time positions and receive $14,808 per year. They are elected at-large, meaning they do not represent a specific geographical area.


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.

More in News

A man places his ballot into the drop box outside Federal Way City Hall. Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing
SAVE Act could disenfranchise millions of voters

Congressman reports law could cost Washingtonians over $361 million just to register to vote.

t
Judge dismisses petitions to recall 2 Kent School Board members

Group wanted to recall Meghin Margel and Tim Clark

t
Kent Police Blotter: March 25 to April 6

Incidents include attempted bank robbery, cable wire theft, DUI arrest, parking lot robbery

Courtesy Photo, Kent Police
New 3-year contract gives Kent Police officers pay boost

Hikes of 16% and 17% in 2025 compared to 2022; beginning salary at $96,306 with annual increases

t
Kent man wanted in reported DV case now presumed to be on the run

Kent Police initially believed the man had died in fire; seek public’s help to find Avon Cobb

t
Grand reopening of Kent Commons Community Center on May 4

City of Kent spent $1.5 million to upgrade facility

t
Meeker Middle School teacher receives state award

WEA recognizes Neeraj Agnihotri with Human and Civil Rights Award for Student Involvement

t
Protest against Trump, Musk draws hundreds in Covington

Rally on April 5 part of global protest in response to numerous actions by president

Cars drive northbound through the intersection of Southeast 192nd Street and 140th Avenue Southeast in Fairwood. An 18-year-old was driving over 100 mph southbound through this intersection on March 19, 2024 when his car hit a minivan, resulting in the deaths of one woman and three minors. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
Kent man who killed four in Renton crash pleads guilty to all charges

Chase Jones faces up to 23 and a half years in prison. His sentencing is set for April 25.

File Photo
Kent City Council approves Stay Out of Drug Areas zone

Nine organizations signed letter opposing new ordinance as ‘not an effective option’

t
Slower is safer: Steps to increase traffic safety in South King County

11-mile corridor has a high number of collisions, many of them fatal.