Election 2011: Former North Highline UAC chair enters Burien City Council race
Greg Duff had to leave the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council when annexation put his home inside Burien boundaries, but he continued public service by joining the Burien Planning Commission. And now, according to a news release we received this morning, he is running for Burien City Council Position 2. Read on for the announcement in its entirety:
Burien Planning Commissioner Greg Duff to enter campaign for Burien City Council
Duff seeking Position 2, currently held by Lucy KrakowiakPlanning Commissioner Greg Duff, former President of the North Highline Unincorporated Council, and the co-owner of Duff Design Florist, today announces his candidacy for Burien City Council, Position 2. “I have been working with the citizens of Burien in handling concerns with zoning regulations. This has provided me valuable experience in the workings of Burien Government,” said Duff. “Through my years as an Eagle Scout, a enlisted Navy sailor, a jobs program director for the Union Gospel Mission, a supporter of Transform Burien, and an elder in my church, I have served my community with heart and compassion,” said Duff. “For the past several years, I have gained tremendous experience in public service to our region and have the skills to help run our City with compassion and prudence.”
“I think we can do a better job meeting the needs of Burien in general and the low-income in particular,” said Duff. “Earlier in my career, I developed job training programs for the Union Gospel Mission. By supporting social programs through my church and with Transform Burien, I continue to work with the poor, the struggling, and those seeking to improve their families. One of the most important resources for these folks is public libraries. And yet we have an incumbent who has not fought to protect the White Center and Boulevard Park Libraries from closure. This puts even more pressure for those in the City of Burien to access the busy new Town Square Library. Libraries are often the first and only tool for the unemployed. I will use all my resources to fight to protect this vital service to low income communities, students, the elderly, and everyone who appreciates the free public library legacy begun more than one hundred twenty-five years ago. When I am on the City Council, I will ensure we are not selecting short term savings over long term investments.”
Duff, a 12-year resident of North Highline, was annexed into the City, and promptly named to the Burien Planning Commission following his exemplary service as President of NHUC. As President of the North Highline Unincorporated Council, Duff successfully battled the County, preventing budget cuts to the King County Sheriff’s Office that would have cut officers in the North Highline area. When the county tried to sell it off, he helped save Puget Sound Park. Greg was a finalist for the city council appointment earlier this year.
Greg Duff has the perfectly well-rounded life experience of a father, grandfather, small business owner, union truck driver, athlete, international mission leader, church elder, community activist, planning commission member and graduate of the King County Sheriff’s Office Citizen’s Police Academy. His mission, to “Build a Better Burien,” has a solid foundation and the people of Burien will benefit when they elect Greg Duff to the City Council.
The annexation of the North Highline “Area X” brought more vacant land into the City of Burien, as will as the annexation of “Area Y”. Believing that vacant land, properly managed, can create jobs, Greg will continue to promote land use that encourages family-wage jobs and long-term opportunity, while carefully stewarding in parks and recreation opportunities that create community. The theme of the Duff campaign is “Building a Better Burien” and emphasizes investments that create strong families, neighborhoods, and jobs.
Duff will make public safety a hallmark of his service on the city council. “I gained indispensible knowledge of the inner workings and needs of the Sheriff’s Department. By observing specialized units available to the City of Burien, I realize how important the KCSO is to the city,” said Duff. “With Burien government leaders now studying the feasibility of going to their own police department, I have a background extremely valuable to our citizens and those in public safety.”
Greg Duff is the husband of three and the grandfather of four, and his greatest passions are children and baseball. More information can be found at www.duff4burien.com.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
