Directory of Elected Officials 2017 Pierce County THEY REPRESENT YOU LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ©©© OF TACOMATACOMA----PIERCEPIERCE COUNTY 253.272.1495 www.tacomapiercelwv.org Download or view this directory at: www.tacomapiercelwv.org/TRY.html 2017 Elections February 14 th : School bonds, other to be specified April 25 th : To be specified August 1 st : Primary Election for Port, municipal, park district, and school district elections November 7 th : General Election Voter Information Sources Smartphone Users: Download the powerful Civic Pierce County app from Google Play or Apple App Store and sign in to it. You can: • register to vote • check your voter registration • see current election details including a sample ballot • find a drop box for your ballot • check that your ballot has been received • see current elected officials representing you and their contact information • get basic voting questions answered • and find many other useful functions. Pierce County Elections Office: Use a computer browser to find out about the current election at Pierce County Elections (part of the Auditor’s Office), including all the information above. Click MyVote at: www.co.pierce.wa.us/elections or call 253-798-7427. Washington State: League of Women Voters of Washington www.lwvwa.org Elections & Voting www.vote.wa.gov Sec’y of State’s Elections Office: 360-902-4151 www.secstate.wa.gov General Information: 800-321-2808 Voter Information: 800-448-4881 Judicial Voter Pamphlet www.courts.wa.gov National: LWV Voter Information 411, which lists local elections, including candidates’ responses to questions posed by the League: www.vote411.org Project Vote Smart: www.vote-smart.org Federal Elections Commission: www.fec.gov U.S. Government Portal: www.firstgov.gov TRY 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS Voter Information Sources inside front cover Table of Contents 1 Welcome, Voter 2 About the League of Women Voters 3 Pierce County Municipalities 4 Pierce County Officials 18 Pierce County Council 19 Election District Maps 20 Washington State Government 22 State Legislature 23 U.S. Federal Officials 26 Port of Tacoma 27 Pierce Conservation District 27 Courts and Judges 27 Park Districts 28 School Districts 29 Local Radio Stations 35 Civic Television 35 Forms of Municipal Government 35 Municipal Classifications 36 Neighborhood / Community Councils 36 Be Active in the Political Party of Your Choice 38 Make an Advocacy Plan 39 Choosing and Supporting a Candidate 40 Letters to the Editor 40 Voting and Voter Registration inside back cover Felons’ Right to Vote inside back cover TRY 2017 Page 1 Welcome, Voter This directory is compiled by the League of Women Voters of Tacoma-Pierce County as a resource for citizens who wish to engage with their representatives at any level of government. The League also provides election information at www.VOTE411 . We encourage all residents of Pierce County to take advantage of these resources to learn more about how to be engaged with government. One of the first steps in getting involved is writing a Letter to the Editor. On page 40, we have suggestions for writing this kind of letter and getting it printed, plus contact information for publications in Pierce County. You can also write, phone, or e-mail any elected official in the county, as well as state and federal government officials, using the information on pages 4-34. Your best chance of being heard is to stand in front of the individual who represents you. Included in the directory are the meeting times for all city/town councils, neighborhood/ community councils, school boards, and other groups in the County. When you arrive, sign in and indicate by your name if you wish to speak. We’ve also included the office numbers in Olympia for all of our Pierce County State Representatives. Be sure to make an appointment if you wish to visit with them. If there is a particular issue that you want to pursue, we’ve included Making an Advocacy Plan on page 39. This guide leads you through the process of working with others on your issue of choice. A good starting point for issue information is the LWV of Washington website, www.lwvwa.org . This comprehensive site has links to information about ballot issues, political parties, campaign finance reform, and citizen watchdog groups. Finally, we have included information on how to choose and support a candidate on page 40. The League does not endorse any political party or candidate, but this information can help YOU decide how to use your vote. Contact information for the political parties is on page 38. Our objective in producing this guide is to ensure that you have the information you need to be an engaged citizen. The people listed in this booklet represent you. Let your voice be heard! Ruth Ann Hatchett President TRY 2017 Page 2 About the League of Women Voters of Tacoma-Pierce County We are women and men of all ages and backgrounds who want to make a difference in our communities, our country, and our world. We encourage informed and active participation in government. The League is political, but nonpartisan; our organization does not rate, endorse, or support political candidates , or any political party. • Membership is open to all people age 16 or older, with Associate Membership available for those younger. • In order to increase understanding on major policy issues, we research issues from many points of view and educate ourselves, the public, and decision-makers. • We are nonpartisan. We do not support, oppose, or rate candidates. • We do support (or oppose) issues and legislation, after member study and agreement. We mobilize people to vote and to have a say in the complex decisions which affect us all. • We sponsor and assist with candidates’ forums – on television and in public places. • Our other activities include free public forums on issues, voter registration drives, and nonpartisan election guides. • Current issues we are studying include Mental Health Services in Pierce County and Pierce County Funding. We seek to increase League and citizen involvement in: • local governments and boards, • contributions to traditional and online publications, • public service. Involvement means: • voting, • paying attention to government meetings, • contacting (by phone, mail, e-mail, visit) elected officials, • joining citizen advisory commissions and task forces, • joining advocacy groups, • running for public office. Consider joining in the effort: The League of Women Voters can always use more help to educate voters on local, state, and national issues and candidates’ views. Send a note to [email protected] or call 253.272.1495. TRY 2017 Page 3 PIERCE COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES Listed in alphabetical Order. City classification and form of government are explained on pages 35 and 36. AUBURN 253-931-3000 Auburn is mostly in King County, but its boundary extends into Pierce County. City Hall [email protected] 25 W Main St Auburn, WA 98001-4998 www.auburnwa.gov Population 75,545 total − 9,595 in Pierce County Classification Optional Municipal Code Incorporation 1891 Form of Government Mayor-Council Next Election MAYOR Nancy Backus 253-931-3041 2017 [email protected] CITY COUNCIL (4-year term) Pos 1 Largo Wales 253-261-5421 2019 [email protected] Pos 2 Claude DaCorsi 253-329-4084 2017 [email protected] Pos 3 Bill Peloza 253-261-3235 2019 [email protected] Pos 4 Yolanda Trout-Manuel 253-329-4029 2017 [email protected] Pos 5 John Holman 253-261-5384 2019 [email protected] Pos 6 Rich Wagner 253-261-3263 2017 [email protected] Pos 7 Robert Baggett 253-457-2358 2019 [email protected] City Council meets the 1 st and 3 rd Mondays at 7 p.m. at Auburn City Hall, 25 W Main St. __________________________________________________________ BONNEY LAKE 253-862-8602 City Hall [email protected] 9002 Main Street East P.O. Box 7380 Bonney Lake, WA 98391-0944 www.ci.bonney-lake.wa.us Population 19,903 Classification Optional Municipal Code Incorporation 1949 Form of Government Mayor-Council Next Election MAYOR Neil Johnson 253-447-4309 2017 [email protected] CITY COUNCIL (4-year term) Pos 1 Randy McKibbin 253-241-0472 2017 [email protected] Pos 2 Justin Evans 253-709-9199 2019 [email protected] Cont. opposite TRY 2017 Page 4 BONNEY LAKE, cont. Pos 3 Dan Swatman 253-447-4269 2017 [email protected] Pos 4 James Rackley 253-862-5326 2019 [email protected] Pos 5 Tom Watson 253-348-7995 2019 [email protected] Pos 6 Donn Lewis 253-826-5431 2017 [email protected] Pos 7 Katrina Minton-Davis 253-691-4144 2019 [email protected] City Council meets the 2 nd and 4 th Tuesdays at 6 p.m. __________________________________________________________ BUCKLEY 360-829-1921 ext. 7803 City Hall [email protected] 933 Main St PO Box 1960 Buckley, WA 98321 www.cityofbuckley.com Population 4,587 Classification Optional Municipal Code Incorporation 1890 Form of Government Mayor-Council Next Election MAYOR Patricia Johnson 360-761-7803 2017 [email protected] CITY COUNCIL (4-year term) Pos 1 Lyn Rose 360-829-6585 2017 [email protected] Pos 2 Cristi Boyle-Barrett 360-829-2906 2017 [email protected] Pos 3 Marvin Sundstrom 360-829-5249 2017 [email protected] Pos 4 Beau Burkett 253-345-1124 2019 [email protected] Pos 5 John Leggett 360-829-0447 2019 [email protected] Pos 6 Milt Tremblay 360-829-2804 2019 [email protected] Pos 7 Sandy Burkett 360.508.2328 2017 [email protected] City Council meets the 2 nd and 4 th Tuesdays at 7 p.m.