Longtime mayor is out. Richland gets a new leader in split vote

A relative newcomer is stepping into the lead role on the Richland City Council.

Ryan Lukson became the city’s newest mayor on a 5-2 vote Tuesday night.

“As someone who was born and raised in Richland, I’m excited for the opportunity to help shape the city that I love and that I have called home for much of my life,” Lukson told the Herald.

He replaces longtime Councilman Bob Thompson in the role, defeating Thompson’s nominee Councilman Terry Christensen, who had been mayor pro term for four years.

Thompson, who’d been mayor for eight years over two decades, removed himself from consideration before the vote.

He said he didn’t want to be considered for mayor or mayor pro tem.

“Richland has had a tradition of a mayor serving for two consecutive terms,” he said. “It has always been my believe that the city needs to refresh leadership on a regular basis.”

The new leadership is younger by 40 years, and more in line with the city’s changing demographics. Also being mayor is a time-consuming experience. At 64-years-old, Thompson said the 70 to 80 hours of work per week “isn’t as appealing as it once was.”

The vote was taken using a paper ballot and the city has yet to release publicly the details.

The council selects one of its members to serve in the largely honorary position every two years. Along with making public appearances, the mayor leads city council meetings.

He was the second new mayor chosen in the Tri-Cities this week. Pasco chose Saul Martinez, the city’s first Latino mayor, after longtime Mayor Matt Watkins didn’t seek re-election.

And in Kennewick, a split council chose Don Britain to be mayor again, then three of the council members filed an ethics complaint against him.

Thompson, a practicing attorney and longtime councilman, was first elected to the council in 1994, and served as mayor between 2000 and 2004 and again starting in 2016.

Thompson faced some personal challenges last year. He was arrested June 30 on suspicion of driving drunk near the Columbia Center mall in Kennewick. He said dehydration may have contributed to his unexpectedly high readings after dining with friends.

The District Court case was continued to this year.

Richland native

Lukson, a civil deputy prosecutor, won his spot on the council in 2017 after he replaced outgoing Councilman David Rose. He ran on his ability to bring together strong personalities.

He wants to help implement council’s vision for the city.

“That is, continue to invest in our downtown and waterfront district, infrastructure projects, create recreational opportunities and improve upon the overall quality of life of our residents while maintaining the relatively low tax base that we currently enjoy,” he said.

He was born in Richland and graduated, along with his wife Jessica, from Richland High School. He left the city to pursue a business-finance degree from the University of Washington and a law degree from Florida State University.

After spending several years as a civil litigator in Florida and Washington, D.C.., they moved back to the city in 2011.

As a Benton County civil deputy prosecutor, Lukson works with the Benton County sheriff and the jail. His wife works at Kadlec Clinic Hematology Oncology.

He also enjoys coaching his son’s T-ball team, golfing and paddle boarding.

In his first two years on the council, Lukson has proven himself to be a clear thinker and a problem solver, Thompson said.

“He has a calm and reassuring manner that I think citizens appreciate,” he said. “These are the talents that the council based its decision on.”

Mayor pro tem

The city council picked 12-year veteran Councilwoman Sandra Kent for the role of mayor pro tem. She will lead the meetings if the mayor isn’t available and also will be called on to make public appearances.

Kent joined the council in 2008 to fill a vacancy, after serving two years on the planning commission.

A practicing attorney, she moved to Richland in 1999 after graduating from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a degree in urban planning and her law degree from the University of Kansas.

Her career at U.S. Department of Energy facilities has given her experience with regulations, negotiations and management of hazardous clean-up projects. She is Hanford contractor Mission Support Alliance’s deputy chief counsel.

She has volunteered with the Women Helping Women Fund and served on the United Way board and the Community Solutions Team.

This story was originally published January 8, 2020 at 12:50 PM.