Redmond City Councilmember Kim Allen will have a challenger as she runs for re-election to position 4 on the council.
Sally J. Chen, a relative newcomer to Redmond, has also filed to appear on the ballot for the Aug. 18 primary election, for Redmond City Council position 4.
The top two vote-getters or those unopposed will automatically advance toward the Nov. 3 general election and voters do have the option of writing in other candidates’ names.
In the Chen-Allen race, both will advance to the Nov. 3 election.
The deadline for candidate filing with King County Elections was June 5.
But it’s bound to be an interesting summer of campaigning for Allen and Chen, as they’ve each declared their interests in winning the position.
According to a press release, Chen moved to Redmond in 2007 with her husband Adrian and immediately began volunteering within the community to learn about Redmond, its history and local politics.
“I noticed right away that many folks here in Redmond are like me — new to the area, born somewhere else in the world and under 40,” Chen remarked. “I wondered why there wasn’t someone on the City Council more like that.”
Chen, who is 25 years old, was born in Taiwan, came to America as a baby and became a U.S. citizen. She grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, Ga. and studied economics and political science at the University of Illinois. In her sophomore year, she started volunteering on political campaigns and learned more about the importance of local politics.
“Our city is becoming a more diverse, younger community with over half our population having lived here less than 10 years,” Chen stated. “Of newly registered voters, for instance, 60 percent are 35 and under. Redmond needs someone who will represent all citizens and I intend to do just that by bringing new ideas and a fresh perspective to the council.”
Chen is running on a platform of “smart urban growth, preservation of our environment and efficient, effective transportation solutions.” She believes that “well-controlled, planned growth of the city’s downtown is a key part of making Redmond a better place to live while helping to mitigate traffic problems.”
Also, Chen “favors infrastructure to help people get around Redmond quickly” and would like to see more parks and open spaces that come “from proper planning and strong business revenues.”
Chen continued, “I want to help make Redmond the very best place to live. A concentration of appropriate development downtown will give Redmond citizens a focal point for shopping and entertainment as well as housing. It will allow efficient transportation planning and go a long way to helping preserve the character of our residential neighborhoods. Planning and paying for services and infrastructure improvements without mortgaging our children’s future means we must have a strong business base. Our quality of life depends on it.”
Chen has also expressed a desire to bridge diverse communities within Redmond and cited her newcomer status as a strength.
“I would like to build a bridge between the more established and the newer communities within Redmond. Each can benefit from the other and that will create a better Redmond for everyone,” she said.
Chen’s first taste of public service was earning the Silver Award and Gold Award, the highest awards given in the Girl Scouts of America. In addition to English, she speaks Mandarin and French. She plays the piano and string bass and is an avid runner.
Allen’s announcement to seek re-election was published in the May 15 edition of the Redmond Reporter. She cited campaign goals to preserve Redmond’s character and environmental beauty, as well as promoting green building practices and to ensure that there are ample opportunities for all neighbors to be heard and included in decision-making.
Allen has also announced that while she hits the campaign trail and tries to meet as many Redmond residents as possible, she is training to participate in the Seattle Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk with a team of Redmond Police Department personnel called “Cops for the Cure.”
With regard to doorbelling, Allen stated, “I think those of us who hold public office should have to explain what we have accomplished and why we should be returned for another term.”
As for her alliance with Cops for the Cure, Allen said, “I am privileged to be part of such a great group of people walking for such a great cause. The walk is 60 miles over the course of three days. My teammates who have done the walk before recommend training by walking in Redmond’s hilly neighborhoods … My longest walk so far was seven miles but I hope to stretch that to 10 or 12 miles before the big day.”
In other Redmond City Council news, current council vice-president John P. “Pat” Vache, is running unopposed for re-election to position 2. His candidacy was announced in the May 29 issue of the Redmond Reporter, in which he stated his goals to provide fiscal stewardship, economic vitality and human services as well as goods, services and jobs in the community.
Redmond Arts Commissioner John Stilin is the only candidate who has filed to run for the number 6 position on the council, which will be vacated when current Council President Nancy McCormick retires at the end of this year.
Stilin’s candidacy was announced in the Redmond Reporter on March 18. He spoke about making sure that Redmond is a safe, culturally rich and economically vibrant city that residents can call “home.” He would like to see citizens actively involved in the community and governance.
