By CHARLES TYSON
Candidate, Tukwila City Council
After decades of both taking from and giving to my community, my wife Diane and myself have decided the time has come for me to offer my insight, professional training, and listening skills to my neighbors by serving on the Tukwila City Council.
My parents moved my siblings and myself to the small town of Tukwila to give us children the opportunity to grow up in the country. Feeding farm animals and tending to the needs of a large garden were two chores assigned me, as a means of gaining a sense of responsibility at an early age. A result of doing chores was a sense of contributing to the family and being a part of our community.
All about us, I learned by example. Everyone used their talents and skills for the benefit of the community. Early attempts had been unsuccessful at disincorporating our Town, and it was only by volunteerism that the town grew.
The annual budget of Tukwila was under $30,000. Yes. Monthly, I walked over to Mrs. Newton’s house to pay our water bill. All of the town records were kept in her roll top desk, and the town’s revenue from utility collections was kept in a tin can under her bed. Yes.
Volunteerism in Tukwila took many forms. Certainly, most notable was the service of the men on our all-volunteer fire department. But there was more, such as my parents’ time spent cleaning up after dances at the Community Club.
The purpose of the dances was to raise money for the Bicentennial Fireworks Celebration (1958) on the Foster Golf Course. Years later I would serve on the Citizens Committee that negotiated with Joe Aliment for the purchase of his course, in order to preserve the green space from commercial development. Today, sadly, there are those who would like the city to sell this unique asset.
Serving as an early member of the Tukwila Historical Society, which was formed by close friends, was another act of volunteerism. Another highlight of my giving back to the community was the development of the Tyson Plan as a means to economically meet future city facility needs. No other citizen has brought forth a plan, and mine remains under consideration despite the hundreds of thousands of dollars that has been paid by the city to a Bremerton architectural firm to bring forth a proposal.
The duty of volunteerism, instilled in me at an early age, is why I am a candidate for Position 6 on the Tukwila City Council. I would be honored by your vote which will show your faith in me to provide my training and insight to deal with the complex problems of our city. Thank you.
