Thomas Stepping Down From Lakewood City Council

Claudia Thomas' platform during her campaign for Lakewood City Council 15 years ago was "Unity in the Community." Now, as her fifth term nears completion, Thomas has announced she will not file for reelection.

Thomas, 81, was the first black female mayor to be elected in Washington state after she collected more votes from her peers on the City Council vs. the incumbent, Douglas Richardson. She led Lakewood from 2006-07. She also served eight years as the city's first deputy mayor, and has worked a total of 41 years in public education, nearly half (19 years) with the Kent School District. Her first teaching job was in Asheville, N.C.

Through it all, Thomas believes her purpose has been to serve the public.

"I felt I could make more of a difference by making lives better," Thomas said.

More than 35 percent of the city's nearly 60,000 people are non-Caucasian, according to a City of Lakewood Human Services Needs Assessment report.

"Lakewood is one of the most diverse cities. Because of its makeup, we should have diversity on the city council," Thomas said.

Over the years, Thomas has been a chief supporter of human services and the youth. She has managed to earmark 10 percent of the city's budget to human service and developed the which serves as a liaison between youth and the Lakewood City Council.

Stepping down from position No. 6 also means Thomas must vacate other board seats. She serves on the Sound Transit and Pierce Transit Transportation Boards. She has been an advocate of expanding mass transit for Lakewood and Pierce County commuters.

Much of Thomas' accomplishments during her tenure has or will come to fruition. The Youth Council received 19 applications for the upcoming 2011-12 fiscal year. The Sounder train expects to open its rail service to Lakewood in the summer or fall of 2012 and nonprofits like the Lakewood Area Shelter Association, Communities in School and the Tillicum/American Lake Gardens Community Service Center received some of the $366,000 in human-services contracts.

She said she is most proud of the development of the collaboration group and the youth council movement.

"I feel I can walk away and things will go on," she said. "This was not intended to be a career."

Lakewood City Councilman Walter Neary—who sits next to Thomas—said she had and still has amazing drive and vision and for the entire history of the city, Thomas has been the loudest and strongest advocate for Lakewood's poor and disadvantaged.

"Claudia cares deeply and can translate compassion into action," Neary said who also will vacate his council seat at the end of the year after serving eight years.

Neary added that when the human services funding was under attack, Thomas was always ready with stories of how the human services collaboration improved both organization and lives.

On May 18, Thomas will receive an award based on outstanding contribution in the community from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Thomas profile

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, Bennett College
• Master's degree in educational administration, Seattle University
• Doctorate in organizational development and management, Union University
• National Certified Strategic Planning Consultant
• Negotiator Certified

Civic, political experience and activities:

• American Leadership Forum—Class VIII
• Co-leader of the Lakewood Human Services Collaboration
• Active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Kappa Delta Pi—Honorary Society
• Steward at Allen A.M.E. Church
• Sound Transit Board Member
• Co-Chair—Lakewood's Promise Steering Committee
• Co-Chair—Gang Free Grant Foundation
• Government Commission on Substance Abuse
• Past Board Member—Lakewold Gardens
• Past Board Member—Clover Park Technical College Foundation
• Board member—Senior Citizen's Board
• 42 years in public education
• Vice Principal, Principal, and Retired Assistant Superintendent
• Member—Lakewood First Lions Club
• Member—Chamber of Commerce
• Member—Tacoma Branch of NAACP
• Member—Tacoma Urban League