Politics & Government
VIDEO: Sumner Council Appoints Jon Swanson to Vacant Council Position
The Sumner City Council listened to applicants from varying backgrounds and voted pro-economic development Jon Swanson into office by majority.
The Sumner City Council and Mayor Dave Enslow appointed Planning Commission chair Jon Swanson to the on April 11 during a special council session. Swanson will hold the position for six months until the election in November.
Seven candidates vied for the council position and each was allowed three minutes to speak with the council about their background, beliefs and reasons for applying.
Swanson has owned Valley Vending in Sumner since 2008, after coming out of retirement in 2007. He has managed various businesses across the South Sound for the past 40 years and has been a Sumner resident since 2003.
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In Sumner, he has chaired the Planning Commission for the past four years, and he has served on the Salary Commission, School District Jobs Task Force, the Sumner Downtown Association, the YMCA Steering Committee and Board of Directors for the Sumner Rotary Club.
Swanson ran for the city council fourth seat in 2007 against Matt Richardson and lost, but said the loss did not dampen his enthusiasm to serve the city.
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He lists his top three projects in Sumner as economic development, the Orton Junction project and Sounder parking.
"Sumner should not be shy about moderate growth, particularly attracting a strong retail business base to service our residents," said Swanson in his application. "Orton Junction would be an important part of this also."