By Shawn Skager

The Courier-Herald

Buckley residents will cast their votes Nov. 8 to decide who will help lead their city through the next four years - four years that could see explosive growth for the community.

With a new sewer plant on the horizon and the probability of increased availability of sewer hookups leaving developers ready to build, the next four years could be crucial to defining the direction of growth in the city for years to come.

Although three council seats are on the ballot for this year, only one, the Position 3 seat currently occupied by Randy Reed, is contested.

In the Position 3 race, Sandra Ramsey will vie for election against Kenneth Scott Smith. Both are members of the city's Planning Commission.

For both candidates, the growth of Buckley is the crucial issue facing the city.

&#8220The major issue is the growth issue and zoning,” Ramsey said. &#8220That was apparent at the last zoning public hearing. People are scared, they don't want the town to be like Bonney Lake. We have to control the growth and do what is right for the citizens. It's not going to stay rural. It's better that we do it right and have a plan for doing it right.”

Smith agrees, saying that the key to growth in the city is to manage it correctly.

&#8220I envision the least amount of growth as possible,” he said. &#8220And I want it managed as best as possible. I don't want any political correctness put into it. I understand growth needs to happen, but it needs to be managed and make sure it's done correctly, so that it doesn't affect the people in the city.”

&#8220I'm concerned that the citizens will be charged for the future development of Buckley,” Smith added. &#8220The developers will come in and take their money and be gone. It's about growing pains and I want it to be the least amount of pain as possible.”

According to Ramsey, who works as a commercial loan officer for Mt. Rainier National Bank in Buckley, there are several reasons why she is the right person to help guide Buckley through it's imminent growth spurt.

&#8220I feel that I'm in touch with the people in the community,” she said. &#8220I have been involved with Kiwanis since 1989 and with the schools since 1981. I've been a volunteer for the high school, judging and advising senior projects for the past five years. I'm also on the Buckley Community Development. I feel like I'm in touch with them, I hear what people want in Buckley. I'm highly visible and my door is always open, both here at my job and at home.”

&#8220I have lived in Buckley for six years,” she said. &#8220I was born in Seattle and grew up in Ravensdale, but I've lived in the area since 1980. We decided to move into town after my daughter graduated. We love downtown, being in the city. I'm just not a rural person. We love the sidewalks, the lights.”

For Smith, who has been a resident for eight years, he feels he will best serve the city because of his passion for governance, a passion inherited from his father Wilson Smith.

&#8220My father was very interested in government issues for years,” he said. &#8220He worked with Pam Roach, ran for Senate and helped write RCW codes. We've been interested in this stuff for years. I just finally got to the age where I figured it was time to do my part and try to do my part.”

According to Ramsey, one of the main reason she is running for the council is to help shepherd along the city's comprehensive plan, which she has been involved with for three years on the Planning Commission.

&#8220One reason I'm doing this is because of the comprehensive plan,” she said. &#8220I've been working with the committee, every Monday, sometimes twice a week, for the past couple of years. When you put this much work into something, and you send it to the council and they dissect it - I just want to see the comp plan put through and see it through until the very end. It was a lot of hard work putting it together on everybody's part.”

Ramsey said growth is inevitable in Buckley. The key is to guide it properly, she said.

&#8220We don't want to be like Bonney Lake, there is no continuity in Bonney Lake,” Ramsey said. &#8220We don't want big box businesses. We don't necessarily want a theme, but we want continuity. We want quality and visual building standards in place. Bonney Lake is so uncontrolled right now, with the housing and not just businesses along 410.”

Another key lesson that Buckley can learn from development in its neighbor to the west is that of traffic, Ramsey said.

&#8220They are funneling all of that traffic into two lane roads and then onto (state Route) 410,” she said.

According to Ramsey, the feel of Buckley is the most important part of the community.

&#8220I think the best part of Buckley isn't something you can see, it's something you feel,” Ramsey said. &#8220It's walking down the street, and someone knowing your name. It's someone saying hi and asking how your day is going.”

Smith agrees that the small town feel is a crucial part of Buckley's character.

&#8220The original reason I moved here was because my mother moved here,” he said. &#8220She's widowed and has MS and I take care of her. As I've lived here, I've grown to love the small town feel of the town.”

&#8220I'm for the people,” Smith said. &#8220As to why they should vote for me, all I can say is that I'm not going to make a bunch of promises and say things that I can't keep. I can't tell what the future holds, I just want it to be properly managed. I think we're growing too quick too fast, planning too much too quick. I just want it to be managed, as best as possible.”

Shawn Skager can be reached at sskager@courierherald.com.