Outgoing Sequim city councilors Candace Pratt and Bob Lake were honored earlier this month for their service after they opted not to run again for their council seats.
Mayor Dennis Smith read resolutions on Dec. 9 commemorating the councilors for their service.
Pratt was elected to city council in 2011 to begin service on Jan. 1, 2012, and reelected in 2016. She served as Sequim’s mayor for 2014-2015, and deputy mayor 2018-2019.
“This has been a great experience,” Pratt said.
She encouraged people to consider running, particularly women: at one point four women served on city council, and now Jennifer States will be the only one starting in 2020.
“Our voices are very important,” Pratt said.
Through her years on council, Pratt said she “felt empowered by staff and fellow councilors (and it’s) been a very collegial and rewarding experience.”
Lake was appointed on Jan. 4, 2016, to fill the vacant seat of former mayor Ken Hays who resigned in December 2015.
Lake was elected to a two-year term in November 2017.
After being recognized, Lake told new city councilors they’re “glad to hear your voice.”
He also commended City Manager Charlie Bush as the best manager he’s ever worked with and thanked fellow city councilors Ted Miller, Pratt and Smith “for the leadership they had and for what they taught me.”
Troy Tenneson and Tom Ferrell were voted in after running unopposed in November’s General Election to replace Pratt and Lake. They’ll join William Armacost and States, who were also voted back onto council in November, and Miler, Smith and Brandon Janisse.
Service-minded
Along with making countless decisions with city council, Pratt and Lake both served on multiple committees and boards as part of their service.
Pratt represented the city council/city on: Sequim’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee; Clallam County Planning Policies Advisory Board; Sequim Shiso Sister City Association; Clallam Transit Board of Directors; Sequim Cares; Sequim Youth Services Task Force; Clallam County Homelessness Task Force; Sequim Arts Advisory Commission; Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Clallam Economic Development Corporation.
Lake represented the city council/city on: the Clallam County Board of Health; Sequim’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee; Peninsula Responders Emergency Program (PREP), and Clallam County Trails Advisory Committee.
Prior to serving with the city council, Lake sat with the City’s Parks, Arbor and Recreation Board.
For more information about the Sequim City Council, visit www.sequimwa.gov or call 360-683-4139.
Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
