A record of making Pierce County a great place to live!
More than five years of results on the Pierce County Council have demonstrated the experience, leadership and vision Shawn Bunney will bring to the Executive’s office.
Due to Shawn’s leadership skills, he was elected twice by his fellow Council members to be their Chairman. In this capacity, Shawn focused on public safety, government accountability, job development and quality of life issues – without raising taxes. He also led the Council in saving $20 million dollars for the County’s “rainy day fund”.
Shawn’s experience developing budget priorities and forging good working relationships with Council members are essential qualities that make Shawn Bunney the Right Choice for Pierce County Executive.
Shawn will continue to make jobs and our quality of life his first priority.
When Shawn first took office, the County’s understaffed economic development division occupied a cubicle in a South Tacoma office.
Shawn convinced the Council to make economic development the County’s top priority. He sponsored a countywide study of job creation opportunities that made three recommendations:
- increase the visibility and effectiveness of Pierce County’s Economic Development Division;
- develop an economic strategy and an action plan for the future;
- conduct a comprehensive performance assessment of the Planning and Land Services (PALS) Department, which issues permits for construction of homes and businesses.
Shawn was instrumental in moving the economic development office to the downtown business zone, then upgraded it be a part of the County Executive’s office.
Shawn’s economic strategy includes creating jobs near our homes, with quality roads to move people and products quickly and efficiently.
Shawn initiated an audit of the PALS Department that made 188 recommendations that are now being implemented.
As our next Executive, you can count on Shawn to keep the economy, job development and our quality of life at the forefront of the County’s priorities.
Shawn Is Making Performance Audits Work
Shawn chaired the Performance Audit Committee because audits examine organizational, fiscal and staffing roadblocks that get in the way of improvements.
In addition to substantial Planning and Land Services (PALS) changes due to its audit, other similar audits are improving County operations.
For example, a Superior Court audit identified poor leadership and management contributing to jail overcrowding and early releases. The Court has now decreased its backlog by hundreds of cases.
Government should run efficiently – but even more important, decisions we make should also make sense to the public.
The County also has new ethics rules thanks to another audit initiated by Shawn. A number of elected officials and drug agency administrators owned stock in an expensive drug program that claimed successes that an audit found to be questionable. Now, officials are required to report these relationships.
As Executive, Shawn pledges to continue using performance audits to help make sure Pierce County works for you in a cost-effective manner.
Much more remains to be done and you can count on Shawn to continue providing accountable and ethical leadership.
Schools Out, to Lights Out – Kids Having Fun in a Safe Place!
Shawn believes providing fun, adult-supervised activities helps keep kids out of trouble, especially after school. Funding programs to keep young people busy and to provide adult leadership has been one of his basic campaign promises since he first ran for public office.
Shawn has allocated almost $500,000 for kids over the few years. This program represents how County government can make effective use of its resources to benefit our families and quality of life.
Investing in children is an investment in our future!
There’s No Excuse for Domestic Violence
Shawn believes it is absolutely imperative to reduce the level of domestic violence in Pierce County.
Shawn helped fund the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center, then served as the founding Chairman of its Executive Board.
The Family Justice Center has already become a tremendous resource for those who have suffered at the hands of abusers. Shawn is proud to have helped establish this center, which gives victims a safe, one-stop place to go for help where they won’t be recognized by their neighbors or stalked by their abuser.
There’s No Excuse for Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Hotline
253-798-4166
800-764-2420
(if you’re outside the 253 area code)
Shawn Is Saving FarmlandShawn co-sponsored legislation to save farmland and open space.
This new program lets farmers and other property owners sell development rights to their property without having to develop their land. Developers who buy those rights get credits so they can increase the density of building projects in urban areas.
Property owners can also receive financial gain, but instead of developing their land, open space will be set aside for conservation.
Shawn worked with community organizations and elected city leaders to find a solution. Supporters now hail the conservation program as a milestone in Pierce County history.
Helping Senior Citizens Buy Fresh Produce
In today’s economy many seniors can’t afford fresh fruits and vegetables.
Shawn created and funded a program enabling low income senior citizens to receive fresh produce from local farmers’ markets at no charge.
The program helps local farmers connect with eligible seniors. Shawn also provided funding for senior centers to buy food from local farmers’ markets to provide their seniors with quality and affordable produce.
This exciting initiative is feeding thousands and now has grown countywide, providing senior citizens with fresh food and farmers with a reliable customer base.
A Parks and Trails System for Everyone
Shawn is an avid user and promoter of the County’s parks and trails. During the last year alone he has walked or biked nearly every trail in the County.
In addition to fast-tracking trail construction, Shawn helped acquire land for a new 80-acre Pierce County regional park in the Bonney Lake area.
Shawn strongly supported the “Rails to Trails” program fund that acquired key properties for open space and habitat.
Getting Our Fair Share from D.C.
Prior to his election, Shawn worked as staff attorney to the County Council for ten years.
During that time he came to the conclusion that Pierce County was not getting its share of federal dollars. Other state legislative districts, counties and cities were reaping the tax dollars paid by Pierce County residents.
When Shawn became County Council Chairman, he targeted federal funding for some of our County’s most important issues.
Thanks to the support and bipartisan teamwork of our Congressional delegation, the County has obtained roughly $22.75 million in federal funding for critically important investments in our area.
Saving Lake Tapps – the right thing to do
Puget Sound Energy (Puget) created Lake Tapps as a reservoir to run a power plant. Puget announced in 1999 that it would quit the power generation operation. The future of Lake Tapps became uncertain.
Shawn is working with Pierce County, Lake Tapps neighborhood associations, local cities, state and federal government agencies and Puget Power to find an approach to ensure the survival and the public enjoyment of this beautiful lake.
Planning for Transportation and 80,000 Jobs
Shawn is working with federal, state and local leaders to develop ways to fund the extension of State Route 167 to the Port of Tacoma.
The completion of SR 167 could bring up to 80,000 new trade-related jobs to the region and make the commute better for the rest of us.
In conjunction with SR 167, the “Cross-Base Highway” represents the most important jobs-impacting infrastructure improvement needed in Pierce County, providing access to Frederickson industrial lands and 250,000 residents residing south of SR 512.
Traffic Congestion Relief Ahead!
Shawn has also provided leadership on the County Council in targeting and increasing the resources devoted to County roads.
Shawn teamed with fellow Council members to create a $488 million 20-year investment plan to build or widen 46 roadways and to rebuild 134 intersections in unincorporated Pierce County.
In addition to state and federal grants, real estate excise tax and gas tax funding, developers are now required to pay $189 million of the total to offset the traffic congestion they create.
This was an achievement called “a hard-won major accomplishment” by The News Tribune (10/5/06).
Shawn will continue to work hard as Executive
Shawn is a consensus builder and an effective leader on the tough issues we face as a County. Shawn Bunney is the Best Choice – the Right Choice -- for Pierce County Executive.
