by Paige Norman
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| On left, Steve Fields at Downpour Coffee |
by PAIGE NORMAN: My husband and I had the pleasure of attending the Campaign Kick-off event for Steve Fields running for the position of Redmond Mayor. The event was held at 6 PM, on Thursday, June 25th, at the Downpour Coffee Bar in Redmond (Bridle Trails).
Approximately 50 people attended the event, including former Mayor Rosemarie Ives, and representatives of business, youth and community enterprises from Redmond and Kirkland. Steve Fields was actively meeting and talking to the attendees, as was his wife Ronni and son Jackson.
Several Redmond residents spoke at the event; Mitchell Heunish and Anthony Casanas, who know Steve from Basketball and scouting; also David DeYoung of RBS, Julie Wheadon, and Tom Hinman.
DeYoung, Redmond Business Showcase spoke about the need for the City of Redmond to embrace small businesses; something the current administration has shunned. Mr. DeYoung stated that small businesses make up nearly 80% of business activity in Redmond, yet the focus of the City remains mainly on large corporations and multi-state companies and businesses. Steve Fields is a small business owner and is conscious of the needs and opportunities that small businesses in Redmond provide to residents and community.
Tom Hinman, currently affiliated with Imagine Overlake, Eastside Sustainable Business Alliance and Sustainable Redmond spoke regarding reliable and honest communication between the City administration and residents / community. He cited both the Overlake Corridor expansion/Group Health site and the recent Nokomis Building dispute as examples of the City’s long-standing disregard for resident and community input for growth in Redmond.
Julie Wheadon is the Club Manager at Central Park Tennis Club in Kirkland and a long-time resident of Redmond. She met Steve through family tennis lessons at Central Park; and during his term on the board at the club where he was instrumental in a building campaign that financed the construction of a larger building for the club.
Art Olson, CPA and Solution Architect at PC Bennett Consulting also spoke.
Steve is a very personable man who has coached and been involved in youth basketball and baseball teams as well as Boy Scouts and other community organizations in Redmond. Steve’s LinkedIn profile lists a variety of accomplishments and business experiences, including Regional finance manager at both Nextel and Western Wireless, Supervisor at King County Office of Policy Strategy and Department of Executive Services, Co-Owner of Down Pour Coffee Bar LLC and other small and large companies.
Candidate Field’s campaign focuses on the idea that what happens in Redmond affects all of us. Our city currently has numerous looming developments and no real vision. There is little balance between government goals and taxpayer priorities; these objectives should align. Health and quality of life provides healthy environments for community and residents. Small businesses are important to the structure and cohesiveness of any community, including Redmond.
Steve was joined by his campaign manager, Matt Yoo and is represented by Kathy Allen for public relations.
Steve is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ElectSteveFields.
For more details on issues and campaign priorities, please check out https://electstevefields.com/ under “Issues and Priorities”.
Join me in voting for a positive change in the way that Redmond is governed. Vote for Steve Fields, Mayor of Redmond on the August 4th (Primary) and November 3rd (General Election).
-- Paige Norman, EdHNA political activist
[Mr. Fields won the primary but lost in general election.]
Campaign Manager Yoo emailed that 120 people attended the event.
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