By Dennis Box-The Courier-Herald

The Bonney Lake City Council Ward 3 race has drawn two first-time candidates for the Nov. 6 general election, Michelle Gunn and Laurie Carter.

Councilwoman Cheryle Noble, who now occupies the seat, decided to not seek a second term in office.

Gunn, 34, has lived in Bonney Lake since 1977, &#8220about three months before I went to kindergarten.” She attended Bonney Lake Elementary, graduated from Sumner High School in 1990 and now owns and operates Michelle's Studio of Dance.

Carter, 50, has lived in Bonney Lake since 1997 and in the Bonney Lake area since 1987. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Federal Way and currently works as a claims representative for the Social Security Administration. She is a member of the Parks Board.

Both candidates said their concern is for the future of Bonney Lake, which includes growth and development around the city and in the downtown core area, a triangle bordered by state Route 410, Sumner-Buckley Highway and 184th Street East. Michelle's Studio of Dance is located near the edge of the downtown triangle and Carter lives within walking distance of the area.

Carter said she became interested in the city's politics after working on the parks and trails bond and community/recreation center bond in 2004. Both failed to pass by the necessary 60 percent supermajority.

&#8220I still see a need for a community center and more open spaces,” she said.

One of Carter's top campaign issues is the Washington State University Demonstration Forest. The university closed the forest in May 2006. Quadrant Homes has a proposal before the City Council that would develop a portion of the forest with the remaining acres being donated to the city.

Carter said she would like to see the entire forest saved, but if that is not possible she wants &#8220some part to stay public land with some of it parks and some forest. I would like to see the forest reopened for use until there is a (comprehensive plan) change. The Beautify Bonney Lake (Committee) will go in there and clean up some of the stuff that has happened (since the forest was closed).”

Gunn said one of the strengths she brings to the office is &#8220a lot of history and knowledge (about Bonney Lake) for the length of time I've been here. I remember when Dairy Queen and the gas station were about the only things in Bonney Lake.”

The development of the downtown core is a central issue to Gunn, &#8220not only as a resident, but as a business owner. I have a huge interest in the future of the city. Our downtown should have already been here. If we don't get organized it will not get done. We need a nice downtown for our kids and the residents. We don't have an area for a parade downtown like Enumclaw and Buckley.”

Gunn has had disputes with the city during the past couple of years which she said was one of the reasons she decided to seek office. The candidate had a disagreement with the planning department over cutting down trees on a rental property she owns next to her dance studio and zoning changes that would have affected property she owned.

Both issues were eventually resolved, according to Gunn, but, &#8220whenever you have upsetting run-ins you want to get in there. What I lived through no one should have to go through. It was a horrible year in my life.”

Gunn said, if elected, she can offer the point of view of a resident, a residential and commercial property owner and a local business owner. She has owned Michelle's Studio of Dance for 17 years and recently has had a business relationship with BurnLounge Inc. an online digital music enterprise.

BurnLounge is in the midst of a legal battle with the Federal Trade Commission. The agency filed a complaint June 6 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against BurnLounge alleging it is a pyramid scheme.

When Gunn was asked during a phone interview Friday if she was aware of the charges, Gunn said she had &#8220no comment” at that time.

The primary election is Aug. 21, but the Ward 3 race will move directly to the general election because only two candidates filed for the seat.

Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com.