Penny Sweet Seeks Re-Election for Second Kirkland City Council Term

Penny Sweet, a long time community leader and first term incumbent city council member, announced in a press release Thursday the she will run for re-election in 2013. 

Sweet’s first term on the council started in 2010, she served two years as Deputy Mayor before taking on a number of regional roles on behalf of Kirkland.  She joined the board of the Cascade Water Alliance and is now the chair of its Public Policy Committee.  She chairs the Council’s Public Safety Committee and the Council’s Tourism Development Committee.   

In 2012, Sweet was appointed to serve on the Regional Emergency Management Advisory Committee by the Suburban Cities Association.  She is an alternate on the Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Committee. 

“Anyone who knows me knows my deep commitment and love for Kirkland” says Sweet, “I ran for office because I wanted to assure a great future for our city.”  Sweet said in the release that she believes economic development and growing jobs especially in the Totem Lake area is critical for Kirkland, now the 12th largest city in Washington.  Development of a comprehensive neighborhood planning process is a major goal for her particularly given the growing number of neighborhoods in Kirkland due to annexation.

Deborah Eddy, former Kirkland Mayor and state legislator is quoted in the release, saying, “Penny has been a tireless worker on behalf of Kirkland for nearly 30 years.  She is a problem solver who always listens to everyone’s point of view before decisions are made.  She is a very effective council member."

Sweet, a retired health care administrator from Group Health Cooperative, with her husband,  State Rep. Larry Springer,  has owned and operated  a retail store in Kirkland, The Grape Choice,  for almost 30 years.  She is active in many volunteer efforts throughout the city and is the founder and organizer of Celebrate Kirkland! Which has put on the  4th of July celebration since 1999.  

Her campaign will be hosting a campaign kickoff at The Wilde Rover in downtown Kirkland on April 3 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM.  Friends, family and supporters are invited to attend. 

--Information from Penny Sweet