Candidate Profile: Pat Cole For Sumner City Council

SUMNER, WA — For the November General Election, Pierce County's 566,000 registered voters will be asked to weigh in on dozens of high-profile elections, including mayoral races in Tacoma, Eatonville, Buckley, and Bonney Lake. Nearly a dozen cities from Puyallup to Lakewood are holding city council elections, and six school districts will also have candidates on the ballot.

To help readers make informed choices, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Pat Cole is running for Sumner City Council Position 2

Age (as of Election Day)

59

Position Sought

Sumner City Council Position 2

Party Affiliation

n/a

Family

Sons: David Cole (36) and Shaun Cole (33). Three adorable grandchildren: Calli, Carson, and Cameron.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

I work for the City of Seattle and so does my son, Shaun Cole.

Education

Bachelors Degree, Public Administration

Occupation

City of Seattle, Human Services Department, Finance Manager (4 years); City of Seattle, Office of Hearing Examiner, Executive Assistant (9 years); King County District Court, Court Manager (1.5 years); Port of Seattle, ID/Access Supervisor and Administrative Assistant (5 years)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

https://www.facebook.com/profi...

Why are you seeking elective office?

I'd like to help lead the City of Sumner. With my government background I believe that I can help lead Sumner over the next 4 years. I understand municipal budgets and I am also familiar with land use issues.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Transportation/traffic is the most pressing issue. There is increasing traffic through town and neighborhoods. I intend to explore and implement a method(s) for bringing in some form of public transportation to Sumner.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am unfamiliar with my opponent and can only assume that he's a good candidate. But, I know that I am the best candidate for this City Council seat.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

n/a

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I agree with the way the Council and Mayor have performed in responding to the coronavirus; they believe in the science and so do I.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I'd like to see more senior housing. Sumner is mandated to accommodate growth and since there is limited land to build and single family homes would not likely be adequate enough, I believe that one route would be to build apartments, especially for senior living. Public safety is another issue I plan to tackle. We have a small police force and I believe that Sumner residents need quicker response times from the police department. It's challenging now and will become more challenging as there are six upcoming officer retirements. I want to make sure that recruitments for the needed replacements are on track while looking at the City budget to see if there is an opportunity to hire an additional officer or two so that Sumner residents see and feel that their police force is available when they are needed.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Two things: As Finance Manager for the City of Seattle and in other civil positions, I have experience in developing and monitoring budgets along with experience in responding to Seattle Council members' requests - I understand what they typically need from a finance unit. I also worked at the Office of Hearing Examiner, for nine years, and that experience provided me with the opportunity to become familiar with land use issues and understand all the technical language. This municipal experience would be a great asset for any new council member.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Try to always do something to help others.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I'm focused. I have a great work ethic. I work well with others. I know, first-hand, how government works. In addition, I care about people and am more than willing to step forward to help an individual or a cause.