Kennewick City Council Ward 3

Elected Experience
I have lived in Kennewick 25 years, and served on the Kennewick City Council since 2014, this being my third term.

Other Professional Experience
I am a retired newspaper journalist of 38 years, covering city and county governments, with 10 years covering courts and law forcement in nine cities and 2 states.

Education
I have a bachelor's of science degree in journalism from Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo, California.

Community Service
Served Christian churches many years, currently at South Hills in Kennewick. Volunteer/support Union Gospel Mission, TROT for disabled youth, Chinese Children Adoption International, Church Planting Evangelism in Philippines and Christian Outreach in India.

Statement
With 50 years of watching local government as a news reporter/councilman, I have great experience for being re-elected. Government must be held accountable with how tax dollars are used. Challenges abound in Kennewick because of the demands of growth. Sales tax is our biggest revenue, with property tax No. 2. But it's not enough. Cost of government is escalating with: transportation benefit district fees, ambulance utility fees, fire and  parks impact fees, and an option to raise the property tax levy lid from 1 percent annually to 3 percent. All this because of Kennewick's nonstop growth. Water/sewer charges creeping upward, and this year the Public Safety Tax boosted retail sales tax by 0.03 percent. And perceived necessarycapital projects (convention center expansion; a community recreation center, replacing city hall, replacing dilalpidated city shops; creating a citywide trails/bicycle paths network; another fire station with equipment in South Kennewick; upgrading the city computer system; and converting the old KGH property into a Drug/Alcohol Center) are not doable without more of your money. Did I mention roads and water systems? I promised to vote wisely on making your dollars work for you. I thank you. Vote John Trumbo for Ward 3, position 3.

Elected Experience
I was an elected PCO in Benton County 2012-2014.

Other Professional Experience
I started working with my hands as a young man. In my 20 year career I have worked as a Fabricator, Welder, Machinist, Production manager, and Metal artist. I have built my own small business in Kennewick. 

Education
I trained as an automotive technician at CBC. During my working life, as I was assigned management responsibilities, I sought out various management and communications courses to develop the skills I needed to support my position.   

Community Service
Volunteer with the Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership, Board member for the South Columbia Creative District, Kennewick Arts Commissioner. 

Statement

My home is in Kennewick, this is where I have started a family, watched my child be born, and started my small business. There is something special here, our established community of friendly neighbors, a historic downtown, community pool, parks, schools and small businesses. We have something unique here in Central Kennewick.   

For 17 years I have lived in Kennewick and observed amazing investments and growth, on the edge of town. That special thing about Kennewick has attracted many new neighbors and they have many friends on city council. It often feels like our home in Central Kennewick is overlooked in favor of flashy projects and big developments at the edge of town. 

Last year I decided to attend city council meetings. I watched council do a great job balancing the budget, but they had to raise taxes to support development in Southridge. I watched them talk about updating the community pool to a new indoor facility, but only after raising 10's of millions to expand the convention center.

In Central Kennewick we pay taxes too, and far too often we get "deferred maintenance".  I'm running to make a difference for Central Kennewick, it's time to get the work done.