Klosowski Will Not Seek Re-Election

University Place Mayor Debbie Klosowski - one of the city's original City Council members - announced today that she will not seek re-election.

Klosowski, who championed UP becoming a city and was first elected to its council after its incorporation in 1995, said she felt the time was right to step down after 17 years of public service.

“I feel it is time for someone else with fresh enthusiasm to join the council," she said in an e-mail to Patch. "I am announcing my decision prior to the June filing period to give others the opportunity to consider if they want to serve our community on the council."

"There are many outstanding people in our city that would do an excellent job on the City Council," she added, "and I hope they step up to the plate to help guide our community for the future.”

Klosowski twice served as mayor, once in 1998 and her current stint as the city's ceremonial leader.

Her departure marks another chapter in University Place's transition. The makeup of the City Council went almost unchanged over 14 years.

But that all changed beginning in 2008, when two City Council members (Linda Bird and Lorna Smith) lost their seats, another ran for the Pierce County Council (Stan Flemming) and longtime Councilwoman Jean Brooks lost her battle with cancer.

With Klosowski's departure, the University Place City Council will have only one of its original members still serving in Ken Grassi. The seat of longtime Councilman Gerald Gehring, who wasn't part of the original group but is serving his fourth consecutive term, is also up for grabs, although Gehring hasn't announced whether he will run again.

For Klosowski, today's announcement marks the end of a political era in UP. She served on the steering committee for Citizens for Incorporation in 1994. After her election, she became a founding member of UP for Art and the Curran Orchard Resource Enthusiasts, which helped bring summer concerts to the Curran Apple Orchard.

The avid dog owner pushed Pierce County to consider building an off-leash dog area at Chambers Creek Properties.

She also was a proponent for the Town Center project, which proved to serve as a voter referendum when other City Council members lost their races.

However, Grassi says the effort to build a downtown of mixed-use development, for which the city borrowed almost $50 million, will be successful, partially because of Klosowski's foresight and commitment to the project.

"I think her commitment to Town Center will prove to be part of her legacy," he said. "It may take a few years, but it will ultimately happen."

"I think No. 1 will be her faithfulness to the city," said Grassi, who added that Klosowski was often the most prepared and educated on issues than anyone on the dais.

In her e-mail to Patch, Klosowski said that she, her husband and their two young children moved to UP more than 20 years ago.

“I was excited to be involved with the incorporation campaign and the start up of our City,” Klosowski said.  “When I think back to what University Place looked like prior to incorporation and compare it to what I see today, I am proud of our many accomplishments.

"We’ve built sidewalks and  streetlights, acquired numerous parks, improved police services and developed land use regulations to protect the livability of our community."

Klosowski couldn't by phone Friday.

Here's her original announcement:

University Place Mayor Debbie Klosowski announced today that she will not seek re-election to the UP City Council.

“Twenty years ago, I moved to University Place with my husband and two young children.  I’ve been heavily involved with city issues for 17 years.  

“I was excited to be involved with the incorporation campaign and the start up of our City,” Klosowski said.  “When I think back to what University Place looked like prior to incorporation and compare it to what I see today, I am proud of our many accomplishments.   We’ve built sidewalks and  streetlights, acquired numerous parks, improved police services and developed land use regulations to protect the livability of our community. 

 “Much work remains to be done but I feel it is time for someone else with fresh enthusiasm to join the council.  I am announcing my decision prior to the June filing period to give others the opportunity to consider if they want to serve our community on the council.  There are many outstanding people in our city that would do an excellent job on the city council and I hope they step up to the plate to help guide our community for the future.”

Mayor Klosowski, who is serving her second term as mayor, was first elected to the City Council in 1995 and has served continuously since then.  She is also a founding member of several community groups including CORE, UP for Art and SUNDogs.  

The General election for the UP City Council will occur this November.