Sharry Edwards announced she will run for Position 4 within the Federal Way City Council on Wednesday.

Position 4 is currently occupied by Deputy Mayor Jeanne Burbidge, who has served on the council since 1997.

Edwards has worked as a nurse for over 22 years, and finds time to help the homeless. She said she is known as an advocate for people from all levels of society explaining that, “The commitment you have seen from me in the community, is the same type of commitment you can expect from me on the City Council.”

Edwards said she believes that the City Council is the place to continue her efforts by looking at ways to help people stuck in the cycle of poverty and by providing opportunities for people to help themselves.

“Job creation is important, and so is education,” she said in a news release. “While I’m excited about UWT locating here in Federal Way, I would also like to attract a technical college/trade school because not everyone has the time or money to attend a large university.”

An opportunity to learn a trade quickly in technology, culinary or the medical field could be a great solution to help underserved people get an education quickly, which would allow them to obtain a better quality of life, she said.

Edwards believes the health and safety of the public start with leaders that take the time to listen.

“No matter if it is a concern about traffic, public safety, the environment, or privacy and property, I will be there,” she said.

Regarding illegal drugs infiltrating our community Edwards states, “It has to become the topic of conversation. Heroin and meth are killing people and breaking down our safety. I see this in my work with the homeless, and have learned that people are becoming addicted at a faster rate than ever before because they can obtain the drugs easily and inexpensively. Let’s work with law enforcement and put an end to this.”

Edwards said she is committed to help educate the public on how irresponsible development can impact an entire ecosystem, noting the former Weyerhaeuser property and citizens of Northlake have real concerns about the environmental impacts that industrial building will have on the Hylebos salmon-fed watershed.

“Whenever there is concern over an ecosystem in danger, we need to stop and listen,” she said. “We owe it to the community to be good stewards to the land, as we are to the taxpayers.”

Edwards and her spouse Owen have three children and a Siberian Husky (Shadow). The oldest (Zane) is a Senior at the University of Washington Seattle and the youngest (Ruby and Simon) attend Decatur High School. Edwards works as a nurse for Group Health Cooperative in Federal Way.

Along with being involved with many community service clubs and organizations, she is most proud of helping the homeless in Federal Way.

“We are all equal,” she said. “Life can be so difficult and helping each other is what it’s all about.”