I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Renton Police Guild

I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Renton Police Guild. In informing me of this endorsement, the Guild President credited my long, successful track record of working with Renton Police on public safety as the basis for their endorsement.

As a Renton City Council Member for 28 years, I helped fund and hire needed police personnel most of the years I was on council, and did my best to protect police personnel from layoffs during recession periods. Hiring through the years included patrol officers, detectives, evidence technicians, crime analysts, DV victim advocate, K9 units, and others who work day and night to keep our community safe. The overall police department and the city itself more than doubled in size while I served on council.

Many years ago I helped develop and implement improved recruitment and hiring policies to increase the diversity of our new-hires, and help the department reflect the evolving demographics of our city.  (This was part of an award-winning city-wide inclusion program that we continually improve and refine as part of the process.)

When our police department outgrew the Mill Avenue Police Station, I helped authorize the funding and construction of our current police station as part of a new city hall complex. More recently I helped add an advanced new Police Training Facility to the complex.

During my years of service on council I consistently embraced technology to improve officer safety and effectiveness, such as modern vehicles, improved communication systems, non-lethal weapon options, and ever-improving forensic/investigation equipment.

I also helped draft numerous changes to city ordinances and advocated for changes to state laws as needed to improve the safety and security of all the residents of our city.  I worked closely in partnership with our residents, our city attorney, elected colleagues, and our police in adjusting these laws. When drafting laws and setting policy, I always kept my eye on our ultimate public safety goals while also working to exhaustively anticipate the fairness, public burden, enforceability, and possible unintended consequences of any new laws we passed.

I am eager to bring my experience, care and diligence back to Renton City Council.  I’m grateful to Renton Police for giving me their support in my 2023 campaign.