This candidate’s experience makes her The Herald’s choice for Richland City Council
If elected, Sandra Kent will be the longest serving member of the Richland City Council.
She was appointed in 2008 and has been re-elected four times since — that’s 13 years of service.
Her institutional knowledge is an important asset and her depth of experience cannot be easily replaced.
Kent is deputy chief counsel for Hanford Mission Integration Solutions, and the only council member currently connected to the Hanford site. She has been a steadying force on the city council for many years and we recommend voters return her to the job.
Unfortunately, we were unable to interview her opponent, Larry Stanley.
We tried several times to reach him and connected with Stanley early on, but as time went by there was no response to our emails or phone messages.
It is a shame we didn’t get a chance to talk with him. The Herald has a longstanding policy that we don’t recommend candidates we haven’t interviewed.
Last year, Stanley ran against Republican State Rep. Matt Boehnke, and we had a very informative discussion. Stanley ran as a member of the Alliance Party, and his focus at that time was finding common ground and healing divisions between political parties.
That’s something our community certainly could use some help with this election.
Kent said her priorities next term are to continue to guide the city through COVID and to make fiscally smart decisions in the upcoming 2022 budget. She also wants to expand the park system and other amenities in the city.
Kent has been a reliable and thoughtful member of the city council and deserves another term.
The Tri-City Herald Editorial Board recommends Sandra Kent for Richland City Council.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREBehind Our Election Recommendations
Who decides the recommendations?
Members of The Tri-City Herald editorial board is comprised of experienced opinion journalists and community members, and is separate from The Herald’s newsroom. Conversations are on the record.
What does the recommendation process entail?
Whenever possible, The Herald editorial board meets with opposing candidates at the same time. The questions are largely focused on a candidate’s qualifications and goals. The editorial board then discusses the candidates in each race and decides who to recommend. Board members seek to reach a consensus on our recommendations, but not every decision is unanimous.
Is the editorial board partisan?
No. In making recommendations, members of the editorial board consider which candidates are well prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they agree with us or belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, their readiness for office, their depth of knowledge of key issues, their understanding of public policy and their ability to work with the current board . We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points. The editorial board will endorse both Republicans and Democrats.
Why are the editorials unsigned?
Our election recommendations reflect the collective views of The Herald’s editorial board — not just the opinion of one writer. For the 2022 election, the board includes: Cecilia Rexus, Herald editorial writer; Laurie Williams, Herald executive editor; Jack Briggs, retired Herald publisher; Ken Robertson, retired Herald executive director; Matt Taylor, retired Herald editorial writer; Mike Paoli and Martin Valadez, community representatives.