Indian-American Satwinder Kaur has been unanimously elected as the Kent City Council President in the state of Washington.
Kaur, in her new role will serve for two years. She replaces Bill Boyce, who served as council president for two years, according to the news portal Kent Reporter.
Boyce, in his 13th year on the council, nominated Kaur.
“You’ve got some little shoes to fill. I’m sure you will do a great job and we are here to support you and make sure you are very successful,” Boyce said after Kaur’s election in a February 6 meeting.
Kaur expressed gratitude to Boyce for his leadership and for being a good mentor.
“As I start this I know all of us have the same goal of serving the community and making sure Kent is a better place for all of us,” Satwinder Kaur said.
The council president has to work closely with the mayor and also serves as the official spokesperson of the council.
“I’m very excited to work with you and to move this council forward in the next couple of years,” Mayor Dana Ralph said to Kaur.
In 2021, voters chose Kaur for a four-year term on the council, when she ran unopposed. She first won the election in 2017 by defeating Paul Addis. Before that, Kaur was an executive assistant with the City Council in 2012 and 2013.
According to the Kent City Council website, Kaur sees her role on the council as a great learning opportunity and a chance to bring a fresh set of eyes to the city’s problems.
“I want to bring new perspectives that may not have been considered before,” the website says, quoting Kaur.
Having served as an intern in the Mayor’s Office, Kaur feels she understands resident issues and concerns well.
“Kent is often overlooked, but there are so many things about Kent that people don’t know, and we have so many great stories to tell. I’m looking forward to working with all council members,” Kaur said.
As a lifelong resident and a graduate of Kentridge High School, Kent City Councilmember Satwinder Kaur calls Kent home, where she lives with her husband and a middle-school-aged son.