Month: May 2018

Messages matter.  And, the message we were sending last Tuesday during a press conference was that we want more family-wage jobs for our residents and good businesses are an important part of a vibrant Pierce County! Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with nine mayors from some of our largest cities in the county -- as well as representatives from labor and business -- we declared we want Pierce County to be a place where people can work near where they live.  We want them to have the option to be home in time to coach Little League, attend a school recital, plant a garden, or ride the expanded Foothills Trail. Every day, tens of thousands of our neighbors commute out of the county for their work, spending countless hours on congested roads. What…

Did you know that in 2016, Pierce County had the highest number of children entering foster care in Washington State? Of the 1,700 children currently in foster care in the county, nearly half of them are under the age of 5. While we have many wonderful foster parents, the prospects for some children in the foster care system are bleak.  They are far less likely to graduate high school and far more likely to becoming victims of crime.  Tragically, they have dramatically higher rates of drug use, with many ending up on the streets and being trafficked for sex. I think about this frequently, and ask myself and others how we can ensure our children are raised in stable, healthy families? That’s why I love “Baby Court!” (more…)

As you might suspect, I am frequently asked to give greetings/welcome/opening comments to groups that meet throughout our County. They can range from the Pierce County Prayer Breakfast, to the South Sound Military Community Partnership Elected Officials Council, to the upcoming Agriculture Transportation Coalition (the first time the Coalition has met outside California!).   Yesterday, my remarks were part of our Economic Development Office’s Education Forum. The Economic Development Department focuses on the “work” part of our vision for “a vibrant Pierce County where people choose to live, work, and raise a family.”  Part of our strategy for keeping (and hopefully growing) good employers in Pierce County is to provide opportunities to learn about important issues that might affect their operations. Hans Kueck heads this effort up and yesterday he brought…

Hearing our customers – that is, the residents of Pierce County – gives us the opportunity every day to adapt and improve our work. Their feedback helps us see were we can improve, what investments we need to make, and how we can work together more effectively.  How we respond to that feedback is one of the ways we demonstrate our commitment to accountability and transparency. When I first arrived, I created the Director of Constituent Services position in my Executive Team with nearly 1 million people in mind. Sarah Thomas filled that role until she chose to be home full-time with her infant son. I couldn’t compete with Jackson but I still think he’s a more demanding boss than I am! The director role has several responsibilities, including managing…