Sumner - Council Position No. 1
Kirk Hardtke
Earle Stuard
kirkhardtke@gmail.com
(253) 261-7624 stuard.e@yahoo.com
Elected Experience: Elected Shop Steward, Teamsters Local 117. Other Professional Experience: Crew Lead Tacoma Public Utilities, Grounds Maintenance Department; Department Representative of TPU Multi Divisional Safety Committee; Owner of East Pierce Backflow, accredited and licensed; Former Director of Maintenance and Operations, Evergreen Ground Works. Education: Central Washington University, BS; 3rd generation Sumner High School Graduate, class of 1998 (Parents are SHS graduates of 1972, Grandfather class of 1938.) Community Service: Bonney Lake Sumner Little League T-Ball Coach; Sumner Arts Commission/ Rotary Holiday Downtown Decorating Committee; Sumner School District 2016 Bond Committee; Member of Saint Andrews Catholic Church; Saint Andrews Men’s Club Statement: I am a third generation Sumnerite and the proud parent of the 4th generation of Sumner Hardtkes. I would be pleased to represent and advocate for you, and help safely lead Sumner back to the normalcy we all desire and improve the quality of life for all of Sumner residents. My wife and I are Gordon Family YMCA charter members and know that it takes community collaboration to achieve the best things Sumner has to offer. Our two kids, one with autism, love to swim and utilize adaptive programs. We know that many things can’t be taken for granted and we have learned to be advocates, not just for ourselves, but for all families. Like you, we miss downtown events like Rhubarb Days, parades, wine walks and outdoor concerts and movies. They need to come back promptly and safely to give families a place to enjoy community and help Sumner’s downtown businesses bounce back and thrive. We also need to give the Sumner Police Department the resources it needs to help prevent the influx of property crimes too many of us are experiencing. Sumner is who I am. With your vote, we can grow better together. Thank you.
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Elected Experience: 6 years on Sumner City Council; 4 years on Sumner Planning Commission. Other Professional Experience: 38 years at the City of Bellevue Finance Department, retired as Assistant Finance Director/Financial Operations; Skilled in public policy development, contract negotiation and major project management. Education: BA in Business Administration, University of Washington. Community Service: 25 years in church leadership positions counseling adults and youth & providing welfare support to needy families to help them achieve self-reliance; High School Assistant Track Coach for 13 years; Community food drives; Sumner Sweeps; Worked on scout projects benefiting Sumner Link Trail and graffiti removal from public and private property; BSA Merit Badge Counselor. Statement: My wife and I have lived in Sumner since 2002 taking care of a home on the National Register of Historic Places and truly love Sumner’s unique small city charm. When elected, my top priorities will be to: 1) Focus on getting back to normal after the Pandemic with parades, festivals and enjoyment of life in Sumner; 2) Focus on making Sumner a welcoming community by working in the best way possible to address problems of affordable living and homelessness; 3) Seek funding for improvements to Valley Avenue/410 and 166th street/410 interchanges; 4) Strive to provide the best possible protection for our citizens and visitors; 5) Work on improving pedestrian and bicycle safety and expansion of the City’s trail system. Using my experience in municipal finance, I will provide a common sense perspective to all financial discussions and make sure we hold the line on contract spending by using sound financial practices and solid contract oversight. My goal will be to encourage the Council to live up to its responsibility of creating or revising laws and policies that will enable our citizens to enjoy the quality of life they deserve. Thank you for your vote!
