Meet Nancy Dumas, Sumner City Council Candidate

What is your full, legal name? Nancy Murphy Dumas

Where do you work and what is your job title? Lionheart Assurance Solutions, Independent Associate

Age: 48

Where Were You Born? Camden, NJ

Where do you live now and  how long have you lived there? downtown Sumner, WA for 14 years 

Spouse or domestic partner if any: Spouse, Pat

Children: Two boys, one is at SMS, is 12 1/2 year-old and one is at MLE and turning 10 in Sept (I'd say 9 1/2 but he'd correct me!)

Education: K-12 in Moorestown, NJ, grad 1983; lived in Brasil 1983-1984 after HS and before college (Rotary Club Youth Ambassador); BCC, Pemberton, NJ 1984-1987 (while working full time to earn college tuition), University of Maryland/College Park 1987-1988 (until auto accident, injured, couldn't work for 3 months so I lost my job and money to pay for college - I was a Chemisry major but couldn't finish college without a job)

Military Service: None, but I am grateful for and have a tremendous respect for those that serve and for their families who miss them while they are away and watching my family's back.

Memberships and affiliations with clubs and other organizations: MLE PTA, Sumner Historical Society

Have you or a business you owned (or had principal interest in) ever filed bankruptcy? Yes, many years ago. It was a personal bankruptcy forced on us by a huge company.  We reaffirmed all our debt and paid it off because that was the right thing to do (with the exception of the large company. We didn't actually owe them anything but they were in breech of their contract. They could have taken the high road but chose not to. We couldn't afford an attorney to fight it.)

As an adult, have you been convicted or charged with a crime other than a minor traffic violation? No

CAMPAIGN INFORMATION:

Web site:
Email address: ndumas16@gmail.com
Phone number: 253-293-8643
Campaign manager: Self

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE(S):

Elected: MLE PTA Fundraiser, MLE PTA President

Other campaigns for public office: None


THIS CAMPAIGN:

What is the primary reason you are running for this office? Somebody has too, right?! So, it may as well be me! But, my primary reason for running for Position 4 is that the appointment process was so blatently set up, bringing it to a tie vote of 3-3 forcing Mayor Enslow to be the tie breaker. Without skipping a beat or taking a breath, he blurted out "Jon", not Jon Swanson or Mr. Swanson but Jon. The choice was between a recent former City Council Member with experience who would be able to make a smooth transition, knowing the processes, until an election could happen and Jon, a clear buddy and had zero experience. If the interest truly is for the good of the city, then go the way of any employer and pick experience over non-experience. If Jon Swanson was interested in the position, then he could run in November like the rest of us. Mind you, I have nothing against Jon. He didn't create this. He didn't make the appointment vote a tie breaker. That process isn't the reason why but was certainly the catalyst for me to move forward. It was an example of what people in town complain about, "the good old boy's club of council." I'm not a who's who, nor could I draw a line from a face to a name of those that are "Who's Who's." That isn't said with any disrespect. They don't know my face or name either! But, my decisions will be based on what I read, listen to and research, not relationships that I have or feel that I need to foster because of a business relationship. My answer and decision will be straight forward.

What will be your top three priorities if you get elected and why? It makes me sad and angry that a citizens group has had to go to the expense to hire attorney's to try and keep a chemical holding tank out of the core of our downtown. How did it get that far gone from council's grasp and the permitting process? We have four schools within 1.5 miles of this tank, a public library, businesses that have individuals and families financially invested, nevermind thousands of residents... how is a chemical holding tank in downtown a good idea?  And then there's our streets, highways and rivers...

I love the idea of Sumner going after being the Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World, but as a Council Member, I feel it is more my job to support the Chamber and Shelley and SDA and our merchants as they use that marketing hook. It's kitchie (sp) and it's fun. But, while the Chamber and SDA is concentrating on that as a way to bring people to town, my concern is more focused toward, once people come here to visit and take part in the amazing activities and community fun that Sumner offers around being the Rhubarb Pie Capital, they see empty store fronts and murals in disrepair. If the City was going to give up money for appliances to bake pies, I see a greater sense of urgency where that same dollar amount would have restored all five murals in the city that are in disrepair. Why was that money not given to SDA? We all know that curb appeal sells. We can't abandon our merchants who have given it all for their Main Street location. But, we have a forgotten Main Street which is the east end of Main. Those merchants and businesses have just as much invested yet we haven't really continued with our late '90's and early 2000's Council vision of creating that as a mixed use and viable place to do business.

To ensure our personality and profile of our downtown keeps it's charm and character, we need to work with what we have first and be as loyal to our merchants and business owners as they have been to us (via tax based revenue collection). We need to keep our core strong and vibrant. The north end industrial area is out there doing it's own thing and companies are coming in. That's good. The north end is one of the ribs that wraps around us as a community. But we need to be mindful of our spine. If the spine is weak, it can't hold up or onto the ribs. I'm not against growth. We need growth. But, I am against abandonment and taking the easy road.

There are lots of things in my sights, but I think it is so important to be good stewards of our city's revenue and budget. I have been on the Sumner School District's Budget Advisory Panel for the last three years and part of our PTA for the last six years. Money that comes to the district or to the PTA is money that has been entrusted to us and we need to make sure that each decision is fiscally sound, reasonable and mindful.

What sets you apart from the other candidates and/or previous office holders? I know that my other two Primary Running Mates tout that they are both retired and so they have the time. This isn't something I am doing to fill up my day. If you want something done, give it to a busy person. Retired or not shouldn't make someone a candidate. I have children in our schools and have a vested interest in their future. My children are not grown and haven't moved away. I tuck them in each and every night (don't tell their friends!) and I need to make sure that their next 15 years in Sumner is vibrant and safe. But, it's not just for my kids. It's for the other 800+ kids in Sumner and their parents, grandparents and guardians too.

And, while both Jon and Dick are retired business people, my business skills are current. If anyone run's their business this year the same as last year and have no plans on adjusting their strategy for next year or the current marketplace, they are dead in the water. As a city, we can't afford antiquated measures and styles. We need to be creative. We need to think outside of the box and ask why not instead of why. We need to be open minded and forward thinking. 

How much money do you expect your campaign to spend on this election?  I don't think you should need to spend money to be elected. In this economy, as a family, we certainly don't have money to put into it nor would I ask anyone for money. Once I get through the Primary and have to votes to continue on to the General Election in November, I will need to reconsider. The creative part of me would love to see lawns or a garden have a sign that that homeowner has made to show their sign of support for me. Keep it simple but get the word out. Recycling products to make yard signs for me would be just amazing to see.

Official endorsements: None yet.