Updated: City Council Candidate Tom Vance Calls for Environmental Stewardship, Fiscal Responsibility

Tom Vance, a former Sammamish Planning Commission chair, kicked off his City Council bid Wednesday by calling for protecting the environment and upholding fiscal responsibility. 

The former communications and publishing executive is the first candidate to publicly declare Sammamish City Council intentions for the November ballot. His candidacy follows announcements last month by Councilmembers and that they will step down from the seven-member body.

Vance pointed to recent Census numbers, showing that the - and that the city is likely to reach 50,000 residents in the coming years.

"The next few years will be vital," he said in a statement.

"We need to preserve and promote the very qualities that brought most of us to Sammamish, a family friendly suburban community with good roads, good schools, transit, bike and pedestrian trails, a healthy environment, and with recreation, civic, and cultural opportunities. 

"And at the same time, we need to continue our record of financial responsibility, holding the line on taxes, and careful management of our economic resources."

In his statement, he said he supports the implementation of the city's sustainability plan. As the economy improves, he added, residents and officials could work toward implementing the Town Center plan.

While residents and the City Council are still discussing the idea of a , Vance talked about possibly housing the recreation and sporting facility off Southeast Fourth Street, in the Town Center area. That is one location under consideration.

"Town Center can be an opportunity to manage our residential growth while enhancing small business and providing new services for our citizens," he said in his campaign announcement.

Vance ran for office in 2009 but lost to . He and his wife have lived in what is now Sammamish since 1994. 

During his 2009 race, Vance received an endorsement from Washington Conservation Voters. That group reported that he supported the creation of the . 

State records show that he spent more than $8,900 during his 2009 campaign for City Council. 

In his campaign statement, he said he has served as chair of the Sammamish Park Advisory Board, as well as committees, commissions and other local government bodies.

Also, in the campaign announcement, Councilman Mark Cross praised Vance and his work. "Tom has proven his good judgment, his willingness to listen, and his commitment to the long range challenges and opportunities facing Sammamish," Cross said.

Vance received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of California, Santa Barbara, according to his 2009 King County election biography. 

Editor's note: This story was updated on May 16 to include Tom Vance's campaign website.