Priorities
Improving public safety, city services, infrastructure, and more.
Improving Public Safety
Everyone deserves to feel safe in Kent. I’m committed to public safety and reducing crime while building trust and serving with compassion.
Under my leadership, the Kent Police Department was one of the first agencies in the state to implement body-worn cameras and update independent investigation procedures for situations involving uses of force.
Supporting our Police Department with the funding and resources that they need to be fully staffed and able to respond to more 911 calls, reduce response times and do more preventative work.
Prioritizing trust in and collaboration, building relationships with the community through programs like Block Watch, Community Police Academy, National Night Out and more.
Holding frequent, impactful offenders accountable through initiatives like our Targeted Accountability Program.
Continuing to build on partnerships with mental-health co-responders like Puget Sound Fire’s FD Cares program, and connecting those experiencing Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders to service providers.
Balancing accountability with compassion through crime prevention and community education programs, including partnerships to reduce gun violence for at-risk youth and reduce recidivism.
Continuing successful programs like the Community Immersion Law Enforcement Program (CILEP), Project Be Free (domestic violence resources), Community Court (rehabilitative services), and DUI Court (therapeutic programs).
Participated in a nationwide lawsuit against drug companies that misled the public about the addictive strength of opioids, and leveraged settlement funds to support treatment services and programs.
Building Infrastructure
Leveraging regional funding to attract even more investments into Kent's developing infrastructure and accessible transit options.
Continuing to respond to KentWorks resident requests for things like potholes, dumping, traffic signal issues, worn street markings, overgrown vegetation and more.
Last year, the city installed an additional 13 Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at pedestrian crossings to improve safety and crossing improvements at 7 intersections along BNSF tracks.
Completed phase one of the Railroad Quiet Zone on the BNRR, moved forward with the expanded Kent East Hill Operations Center to improve service and weather response.
Leveraged funding from groups like the Puget Sound Region Council, Transportation Improvement Board, and the Washington State Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board, alongside the city’s own allocations, to pursue our infrastructure goals.
Kicked off construction on the Kent Station Parking Access and Improvements Project with Sound Transit to build a $62.5 parking garage that will open early 2027 with 400+ new parking stalls.
Continue seeking Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) opportunities to create a pedestrian-friendly urban environment that is distinct, sustainable and attractive.
Completed needed repairs to the Green River Bridge on Meeker Street, ongoing work on two new roundabouts on Reith Road, and are preparing for construction to extend Meeker streetscape improvements to Kent Elementary.
In partnership with the City, the Kent School District has submitted a funding request for a federal Community Change Grant to renovate Mill Creek Middle School grounds and improve the athletic field and facilities.
Moved forward with the Mill Creek Reestablishment Project to dredge the creek, improve the stream channel and improve culverts to mitigate the effects of flooding and support fish habitat.
Keeping Streets Clean
Making investments to clean up and maintain our public spaces through litter picking, graffiti removal and robust code enforcement.
Continuing to invest in litter picking, graffiti removal and code enforcement, including immediate and sustainable long-term solutions.
Continuing funding for programs like our Litter Strike Team and promoting environmental sustainability and conservation through the #KeepItCleanKent campaign.
Completed the Mill Creek Canyon Revitalization Project, a historic initiative clearing trash and waste from the Mill Creek Canyon Park on East Hill.
Reaching out to homeless residents, treating them with compassion and connecting them with social services and programs that will help them get back on their feet.
Moved our Code Enforcement division into our Police Department to more effectively hold property owners accountable so they follow local laws on trash and dumping.
Supporting volunteer-led litter and pollution removal programs like Team Up 2 Clean Up, Adopt-A-Street, hosting more residential recycling collection events and cleanups.
Partnership with King County Hazardous Waste Management to provide free hazardous waste collection events.
Improving Kent Parks
Making investments to clean up and maintain our public spaces through litter picking, graffiti removal and robust code enforcement.
Continuing to promote the hundreds of city facilities, programs, classes, services, engagement opportunities and fun community events that our Parks Department offers. In 2023, we leveraged $12.2 million in grant funding for park improvements throughout the city.
Last year we completed renovations and upgrades at Van Doren’s Landing Park, Kherson Park, Salt Air Vista Park and the Community Garden to improve recreation for Kent residents. Improvements were also made at Kent Memorial Park and Canterbury Park.
The new Van Doren’s Landing Park project epitomizes the idea of combining recreation with environmental sustainability as well as flood protection, something that Kent has been setting the standard for in the region for many years.
The new Commons Community Garden and Park, now located behind the accesso ShoWare center, expanded to 60 plots, has new storage sheds, a playground, a loop path around the park, and improved ADA accessibility.
In 2024, we celebrated the grand re-opening of Morrill Meadows Park following improvements, and the Kent Commons Community Center, where Parks staff served over 200,000 visitors in 2022, is getting a much-needed facelift.
Springwood Park will be renovated with a new ADA accessible playground, sports courts, an improved trail system, play lawn, spray park and park shelter.
Kiwanis Tot Lot 4, Garrison Creek Park, North Meridian Park, Campus Park and Kent’s first spray park at Uplands Playfield downtown all began design and community engagement in 2024.
Last year alone, tens of thousands of youth and teens, adults and seniors, and those with disabilities, all participated in programs or events across our vast array of parks and recreation offerings.
For the past several years, we have been able to exceed revenue expectations at Riverbend Golf Course, and it is ranked as one of the highest played golf courses in the state for the past ten years. It hosts several national championship tournaments each year, as well as the golf teams from our local high schools.
Expanding Housing Options
Ensuring diverse zoning and housing options that are affordable for all income levels and all household needs in Kent.
Updating the Kent Comprehensive Plan to adhere to Growth Management Act requirements and ensure Kent is meeting the increasing housing needs of our community.
Preserving existing affordable housing options in Kent while minimizing and mitigating displacement, particularly for mobile home parks, low-income and multicultural groups.
Investing in middle housing, multifamily dwelling units including duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, cottage clusters and smaller multiplexes.
Continue to invest in Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and prioritize equity-based strategies which ensure equitable access to ownership and renting.
Continue to engage with the South King Housing and Homelessness Partners (SKHHP) to improve homelessness solutions, regional collaboration, cost savings and consistent land-use policies.
Adopt code amendments to streamline development regulations for middle housing and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) while increasing development incentives.
Smart Budgeting & Spending
Eliminating wasteful spending and budgeting responsibly to sustain our immediate recovery and long-term stability, ensuring your tax dollars are spent locally.
Continue partnering with regional organizations like the Puget Sound Regional Council, Transportation Improvement Board, King County Flood Control District and others to secure state and federal grant funding.
Ensuring that the Biennial Budget and adjustments are sustainable long-term, and prevent the need for personnel reductions or cutting back on services in the future.
Considering the overall health of the economy, our revenue, expenditures and investments to grow a healthy fund balance supporting our strategic goals.
Prioritizing our existing funding to ensure our departments and staff have the resources they need to deliver high-quality public services and programs to residents.
Fighting back against excessive tax increases and ensuring we maintain local control of newly-imposed taxes by the county and state.
Community Engagement
Keeping you informed about what the city is working on through regular updates while providing direct access for questions and concerns.
Continue expanding our public communication efforts through social media, newsletters, public notices, and civics courses like Kent 101 and more to keep you informed of what we’re working on.
Maintaining our frequent schedule of weekly streams, video updates, town halls, public comment periods, neighborhood meetings, and presence at community events.
Expanded the City of Kent Neighborhood Program and launched Drinks in the Driveway to better communicate with and engage various communities around the city.
Recruiting diverse perspectives to our local Boards & Commissions to ensure the advisory role they play helps us consider the lived experience of multicultural and multilingual communities.
Empowering residents to hold their local government accountable with frequent public information and opportunities for public comments about ongoing projects, services and programs.
Strong Local Economy
Supporting our businesses, microenterprises and industries while capitalizing on our regional innovation and competitiveness.
Continue positioning Kent as a global aerospace, advanced manufacturing and distribution cargo hub with a long legacy of innovation—we’re critical to nationwide supply chains and global trade.
Continue investing in workforce development to ensure Kent is a top competitor to attract highly skilled and specialized workers as well as cutting-edge businesses and industries.
Attract good-paying jobs to Kent while improving our commercial and industrial spaces to bring scalable employers and opportunities for residents.
Open doors for businesses to access capital and markets, help unemployed residents transition to available jobs, allocate discretionary funding for long-term, scalable investments in Kent.
Adjusting permitting requirements and make them more accessible to promote our start-up economy, entrepreneurial spirit and business-friendly climate.