This is the second entry in an interview series with the candidates for Sumner’s city council. Curt Brown is the incumbent candidate for Position No. 6. His challenger Melony Kirkish’s interview can be found here.

You’ve served on the city council for eight years. Can you think of a piece of legislation that’s come across your desk that held particular significance for you?

From Restricted Parking Zones, to sign codes, to zoning, to church expansions, they all are significant to me.  Some take much more time and information to make decisions on but they all are important.  I always want to hear from the people directly affected, indirectly and hear from the professionals who work for the city before making any decision.

As an educator, do you think your role in the classroom has benefited you as a councilman? How?

This year is my 29th year in the Sumner School District.  I’ve taught at all three levels and have heard from many students, administrators, staff and parents about things they appreciate or would like to see changed in Sumner. This information is helpful to understand what direction many community members would like to see Sumner move toward or continue with.

Do you try to impress the importance of civic awareness on your students?

Students don’t realize how involved they can get in the community and/or take a stand for something they believe in. Our schools do a good job in getting students involved in volunteering in various aspects in the community and it’s important for them to know how else they can get involved. I do impress the importance and ways to get involved in their community.

How did you find your way to public office in Sumner?

A few years back our family was being affected by the increased growth of pipe stem housing in the downtown. We had one developed next door and then they were being proposed behind us.  We have an older home in the downtown area of larger lots and we became concerned about how pipe stem housing would affect existing home owners including us with houses behind houses.  So I took my concerns to council meetings and that is how it all began.  I wanted to be involved.  The council before me did a good job creating requirements that would let pipe stem housing and existing home owners coincide.

What is your family dynamic like? How would you describe your approach to marriage and parenting?

There is nothing more I love than my family!  My wife and I met in ninth grade at Sumner Junior High.  We started dating our Senior year at SHS and eventually married  5 years later after we finished college and have now been married 30 years.  We have two awesome boys who are now 24 and 26.  My/our approach to marriage and parenting is: love, trust and communication.

Do you have any hobbies?

I used to be an avid hunter, but since I’ve been coaching football I can’t find the time in the fall and get everything done I need to do.  I enjoy camping, fishing, hiking, and vacationing as a family.

You were born in Puyallup, so you’ve lived close by from an early age; but how did you come to settle in Sumner specifically?

I would have been born in Sumner, but we had no hospital so it was in Puyallup.  My parents moved from Enumclaw to Sumner in 1956 to a home on Thompson St. and I grew up there.  After Lori and I married, we wanted to continue to live in Sumner, the place we knew and enjoyed growing up.  We wanted to have our children grow up in the same environment that we thought was a great one as we did, which includes the community and schools.  We started in a small home and later moved up like many people do.

Which city issues are closest to your heart? What’s most important to you?

These two questions have the same answer.  The first importance would be safety.  I have always felt safe in my 52 years here.  I can’t imagine anything else or having to worry  while walking up town or anywhere else in Sumner. The citizens and police do an excellent job looking after us.  Next, I am very interested in keeping the lifestyle and character we have come to appreciate with the community involved parades, festivals, gatherings etc. This is so important and will be challenging with the pressures of growth we continue to have. I’d like to see more sidewalks, the trails completed, continued balanced budgets, solve parking issues and more single family homes on a variety of lot sizes. I would like to see the town center plan up and going. That would include small retail and grocery topped with condos at the Red Apple sight, but the economy is in control at the current time.

How would you describe your personal political philosophy?

Wow, (I) never really thought of having a political philosophy.  I’m involved to keep Sumner the way we love it and change in ways that the community will enjoy and benefit from. I believe in listening to all angles of an issue before making any decisions.  I would consider myself a “listener”.

As an incumbent, do you feel you need to spend much effort campaigning?

Campaigning is an important part of running for office.  Incumbent or not I need to campaign.  Even though I’ve been here a while many have not and they need to read or hear about my views.

How do you keep your ear to the ground regarding the issues important to the people of Sumner?

I feel it is important to understand the issues citizens feel are important.  If I’m going to represent the community, I need to listen to them.  Making any decision involves the community’s voice.  I get emails, calls and have conversations with people all the time.  I would encourage them to continue this.