Black Diamond City Council Candidate Forum Thursday

The Greater Maple Valley-Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce and the Maple Valley Reporter are co-sponsoring a candidate forum for Black Diamond City Council candidates this Thursday, October 13.

The candidates are:

• Position 1:
  • Tamie L. Boxx-Deady
  • Kristine A. Hanson
• Position 2: 
  • Pam McCain
  • Joe May
• Position 3:
  • Ron Taylor
  • W. Leih Mulvihill

Much of the discussion at the forum is expected to center around growth and development in Black Diamond.

The most direct connection to Enumclaw is Yarrow Bay and the Tri-Party Agreement with the Enumclaw School District that plans for the building of up to four elementary school sites, two middle school sites and one high school site in the two new developments called The Villages and Lawson Hills.

Some Enumclaw residents have voiced their concerns about the agreement and why they have to pass bonds to tax themselves seemingly for the benefit of the city of Black Diamond. 

The answer, according to the school district on its Yarrow Bay Discussion Forum, is:

The Enumclaw School District includes two city governments (the City of Enumclaw and the City of Black Diamond) and portions of unincorporated King County. Our two cities and unincorporated area create one school district. Bonds will be put before all of the voters in our one school district.  Notably, this is similar to the Sumner School District (which includes the cities of Sumner and Bonney Lake and the portions of unincorporated Pierce County) and the Steilacoom Historical School District (which includes the cities of Steilacoom and DuPont and the portions of unincorporated Pierce County). These two school districts are used as comparisons to our district because both districts have recently grown significantly (in both population and in the construction of new schools) in one area after being largely built-out in another area. Voters in these two districts recognized the value of one strong school district and the need for new schools in order to avoid overcrowding in existing schools. 

This is a sentiment echoed by who are both running for Position 4. 

Meanwhile, the status of the Yarrow Bay developments for the Black Diamond City Council remains uncertain. Follow its developments with this report from the Covington Reporter, and come to the forum to here more about what the Council candidates have to say on the issue.

The candidate forum takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 13 at the Black Diamond Community Center.