Primary election day is right around the corner, and Enumclaw residents get to choose which council candidates will be moving onto the general election in November.

Vying to fill the Council Position No. 5 seat Council member Tom Sauvageau and challengers Brodie Smith and Dixie Boush.

The Courier-Herald asked each candidate a series of questions. Most were the same, but one was tailored to each candidate specifically. However, Boush could not be reached via email, and did not respond to other requests for answers.

Below are the questions and answers of each candidate, edited for space and clarity. The first answer space was given to incumbent Sauvageau, but then candidates rotate placements in answers.

What is the biggest issue facing Enumclaw at this time?

Sauvageau said the biggest issue for the city is fiscal responsibility.

While other cities (he specifically mentioned Cle Elum, which recently filed for bankruptcy) and the state run on a deficit, he’s proud Enumclaw has always run on a surplus.

This is, without a doubt, one of the defining attributes of this [council] position,” Sauvageau said. “I believe my background in accounting and business finance helps me to navigate the challenging landscape that is presented when dealing with financial responsibility for the city of Enumclaw.”

Smith said his council run isn’t “predicated” on issues with Enumclaw.

“This town, to the credit of past city government, has been progressing on a positive trajectory,” he said. “I want to maintain that growth albeit limit any prospectus future proposed rezoning for residential development.”

The examples he gave was keeping a light industry zone as it is, and the council should investigate other areas to rezone residential.

The phrase “keep Enumclaw a small town” is thrown around a lot, especially during election season. However, that’s largely something the city council cannot control — a council cannot arbitrarily deny permit applications if it adheres to city rules. How do you believe you can use your role as council member to keep Enumclaw’s “rural feel”?

Smith said that the city can use unincorporated King County land to its advantage — let those areas grow instead of Enumclaw.

“We do not need to exacerbate the situation with accelerated growth within our city limits,” he continued. “There are proposed future annexation parcels on the outskirts of our community that would appease the state’s GMA (Growth Management Act).”

And while population growth is unavoidable, Smith proposes supporting policies that would restrict growth over a long period of time, rather than all at once.

“Placing 100+ homes in a rezoned area to accommodate that growth in a short development timeframe, would place a strain on our community,” he said.

Sauvageau said “keeping Enumclaw small” is one of the comments he hears the most from residents, but he has to point out the limitations of the council being able to control development.

“It took me nearly 5 years in being on City Council to understand that although I am limited by state standards there are ways for me to control our local regulations and zoning laws to help curb growth,” he said, noting that after the election, the majority of the council will have little experience as legislators. “My concern is with that many seats vacating this would leave a large amount of inexperience on our council which I’m concerned would have the inadvertent effect of allowing changes that might not keep Enumclaw the small town we all want to see it be. This is the primary reason that I decided to rerun for City Council.”

“Support local business” is another common phrase. As a council member, how do you hope to achieve this?

Sauvageau pointed out that he’s a small business owner, which includes a small business consulting agency.

“I’ve had the chance to meet with and often consult many of our local business leaders and every time I’m left in awe in the sacrifices that these people make for our town,” he said. “…We, of course, have a duty to be responsible with city finances so often it’s not specifically using city finances to directly help businesses. However, reducing the burden of costly permitting fees is without a doubt a priority that I’ve had while I’ve been on City Council as well as limiting regulations that stunt small business growth rather than help them succeed.”

Smith also proposed fee reductions.

“If you are a first-time business owner, you should be commended and encouraged to help your business grow,” he said. I would encourage the city to reduce first time fees for those starting a new business venture within our city limits.”

He added that city funds should continue to support community events like Sundays on Cole and vendor fairs.

“Driving the residents to come out and support local businesses is not only positive for the establishments, it is a positive for the community to get away from their computers and cell phones for a time and interact,” he said.

The council’s most recent hot button issue is automatic license plate readers (ALPRs). While there are clear safety benefits to the cameras, the proposal appears to be highly unpopular with residents. Where do you stand on installing ALPRs?

Smith does not support installing ALPRs.

”[The] less evasive police state monitoring, the better,” he said. “We already live in a time where every movement is monitored with cameras… I understand the positives this can provide for police investigations. However, my main concern is how this may be abused in the future.”

Sauvageau said he did a ride-along with a Kent officer who had an ALPR camera on his car.

”And within several hours we picked up a stolen vehicle which ended in (I kid you not) guns-drawn, down on the ground, high tense drama,” he continued. “… I thought that was a rare occurrence for police, but he explained that with the license plate readers the results for finding suspects were much higher and therefore it was a very common occurrence to have 2 or 3 of these kinds of gun’s drawn situations every week.”

Sauvageau said the ALPR went off again on the way back and again resulted in a high-speed chase and guns-drawn situation.

“This is a touchy subject, the need to balance our rights for privacy with our needs for public safety,” he said. “… [F]or me this is a risk analysis. What is the risk that we have stolen vehicles and bad guys out there on the roads. Clearly, 100% there is no doubt in my mind that we have people like this that come through Enumclaw… However, because there is no doubt in my mind that this will help keep our community safer and give police officers more ability to keep bad guys off the streets, I have to side with supporting ALPR’s on the 410 highway.”

Despite some recent smaller repairs and renovations, the senior center remains an inadequate space for residents. However, a new building would likely require the city again asking residents to pass a bond. How do you think the city should support seniors through the Senior Center?

Sauvageau was personally involved in proposing a downtown community center, which would have included a new senior center. Voters rejected the bond measure.

He said that he will respect the will of his constituents and not propose another bond, “at least in the near future.”

“Thankfully, we’ve found other ways to address the problems with the senior center including obtaining some state grant funding to replace the roof and do some of the repairs on the inside of the building,” he continued. “However, being good stewards of those buildings is part of our responsibility as a city and not just throwing money at the problem to replace it. It’s a fine line to balance and one I’m looking forward to tackling as more of these types of projects come up in the future.”

Smith said voters already rejected a bond to create a new senior center (inside a larger community center) and those wishes should be respected; instead, the city should look at fundraising.

However, Smith also said recent renovations should have sufficed.

“In 2022, Rep. Schrier secured a $700,000 federal grant for structural improvements to the building. That seems adequate for 1 commercial building measuring approximately 4,000 square feet,” he said. “I am wondering where those funds ended up.”

INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS

For Smith: You have any experience as an elected official. Why do you think you’d do well as an Enumclaw council member?

Smith said his current profession, a national sales manager for Douglass Interior Products’ automotive division, requires him to wear many hats, as it’s a “small company.”

“Among that is working alongside others in the company to achieve our set goals. Not unsimilar to being a member of the city council,” he said. “We will all have to work together for the betterment of Enumclaw.”

He also noted he’s isn’t, and has no interest in being, a “career politician.”

“Being a long-time resident of this town, I am very open to the public asking questions of me,” he said. “I would encourage the public to correspond with those in city government to make sure your voice is heard, and I would ask that they interact with me as often as possible.”

For Sauvageau: You’ve spent five years on the council. What are some of the achievements you’d like to highlight?

Sauvageau said he’s seeking a third term (he was appointed in 2021) because he wants the council to retain his experience as a more unexperienced council is formed after the general election.

“Mostly as stated above, the development and growth challenges we face are not easy so understanding how we as a city council can impact that is (in my opinion) vitally important,” he continued.

Sauvageau added that he was part of the efforts to help small businesses navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as worked toward a “balance” in closing Cole Street on weekends to support those businesses. He also said he spearheaded the disc golf course renovation at Farmers Park, resulting in tourism, and has overseen Enumclaw’s budgets, which result in a city surplus.

Sauvageau is also the liaison between the council and the Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce.