Sharry Edwards
How long have you been a Federal Way resident? 12 years.
Profession: licensed practical nurse (Group Health/Kaiser Permanente, 22 years).
Immediate family members: Husband, Owen Edwards, children, Zane, 22, Ruby, 16, and Simon, 15.
Graduation/education history: Olympia High School, 1989, Bates Technical College School of Nursing, 1994.
Age: 46.
Why are you running for election? I have spent my entire adult life working as an advocate in my nursing profession and in the community, as well as my labor union. Whether advocating for medical workers and working conditions, standing up for safe staffing or standing up for patients’ rights, I have a proven record of getting results. I am running for election because I care so much about this community and would like to take my experience as a patient advocate to a higher level of service.
Top goals if you are elected? Creating a safe day and night shelter for homeless families with children with wrap-around services to help them get back into housing and employed. Supporting the city’s effort to create opportunity by encouraging and attracting businesses that help people help themselves, such as a Labor Ready or Flex Staff, as well as promoting more trade school opportunities for those residents who do not have the time or resources for a large college institution setting to quickly learn a trade and enter the work force. I would also like to see us support a senior center that is in town and easily accessible to our seniors. I would like to continue to look at resources to support more police officers and cameras for the city to help with crime reduction.
How do you get results? I have a lot of energy and am known as a multitasker when something needs to get done. I can work with people to find solutions and move forward when we hit road blocks. I have never sat on the sidelines. I jump in and get things done.
What do you think is the most important responsibility of a public official and why? Listening to the residents, hearing what their concerns are, addressing areas that need focus and advocating for them.
Federal Way restaurant you are likeliest to be at on a weekend: Pho Tai or any of the restaurants inside H-Mart.
Federal Way attraction/park you enjoy visiting the most: Town Square Park, with the water feature and zip line for children.
Best thing about living in Federal Way? The people. Working and raising my family here, I have made some of the most wonderful connections and have really enjoyed the city parks, the trails and the beach at Dash Point State Park, and Wild Waves, of course.
Favorite hobby/pastime: Cooking and cleaning, spending time with my children.
Contact information: Sharry Edwards, 253-315-1804; www.FriendsofSharryEdwards.com; Friends of Sharry Edwards/ Facebook.
Diana Noble-Gulliford
How long have you been a Federal Way resident? 47 years.
Profession: Retired from 30 years of real estate sales, 10 years banking.
Immediate family members: Husband, Paul Gulliford, five children.
Graduation/education history: Federal Reserve Bank, commercial banking; real estate management, sales; business law; planning.
Why are you running for election? Federal Way is experiencing a massive change from a suburban city to an urban city. Many issues such as crime, traffic congestion and housing bring important decision-making to our council. My experience in planning, real estate and community involvement over the years will serve our residents well.
Top goals if you are elected? My No. 1 goal is to work toward substantially reducing crime and the homelessness in our city. Other goals: revitalize downtown area; bring Fortune 500 companies to Federal Way; address traffic congestion, multi-family impacts.
How do you get results? I do my homework and research as a way to prepare myself with facts to lay the groundwork for issues. I learn the history of our city and what perspective our city has taken in the past. Working with council members and community members is vital.
What do you think is the most important responsibility of a public official and why? Listening to our Federal Way residents to learn what their opinions and issues are. I am citizen-focused. Our citizens do not feel they are connected with their city government. I want the city of Federal Way to be open and accessible to all. In the past, I spent too many days at the King County Courthouse in Seattle to represent Federal Way in the budget process, land use and public safety matters. There was a time when we had to call long distance to call our local government in Seattle.
Federal Way restaurant you are likeliest to be at on a weekend? Panera or McGraths.
Federal Way attraction/park you enjoy visiting the most? West Hylebos Park and Federal Way Farmers’ Market.
Best thing about living in Federal Way? The people.
Favorite hobby/pastime? Reading books on history; sewing; gardening.
Contact information: Phone — 206-412-5545; email — dnoblegulliford@gmail.com.
Jack Stanford
Length of time living in Federal Way: Since 1976
Profession: Insurance broker, owner of Stanford Insurance.
Immediate family members: Wife is Carol; son is Ryan, who is married to Dani. They have two kids. Daughter is Morgan; she is married to Beau Stonefield. They have one child.
Education: BA from Seattle University, Naval Air Reserves, six years
Age: 70
Why are you running? Currently serving on Human Services Commission and Safe City. The time was right to move up to the next level of service and maybe make a bigger impact.
Top goals if you are elected: Push back hard on the gang violence and open drug use on our streets (the safety and well being of our citizens require it); inclusive approach to economic and community development.
How do you get results? I always have and always will accomplish intended results by bringing partners together for solutions that actually work. Always start with a sound business plan that is not just a bunch of talk.
What is the most important responsibility of an elected official? To protect the public’s interest. Government unchecked leads to self-serving policy. That’s the reason commissions and councils were created in the first place. The management of the budget and its fund balances will ensure you always have a city that will stay solvent and moves forward and does not spend all its time watching and covering holes.
Federal Way restaurant you are most likely to visit on a weekend: My wife and myself go out a lot locally and really enjoy the choices. Clients get our business most of the time.
Favorite attraction in Federal Way: Our grandchildren really enjoy the Rotary splash feature at the city center park.
Best thing about living in Federal Way: Living around your friends, family and clients.
Favorite hobby/pastime: Just rejoined Twin Lakes to play more golf. Now my favorite pastime is waving a sign at 320th and 99.
Contact information: 206-799-1325; jack@stanfordinsurance.com; www.stanfordforcouncil.org.
Hoang Tran
How long have you been a Federal Way resident? Almost three years ago, but I have been working in Federal Way for the last six.
Profession: Community service office administrator.
Immediate family members: Thuy Dang, wife, Victoria Tran, daughter, Andrew and Jonathan, sons.
Graduation/education history: Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington; juris doctor student, Northwestern California University School of Law.
Age: 55.
Why are you running for election? I’m running because I am dedicated to the people of Federal Way and making Federal Way a better place for all of its residents. I want to bring fresh ideas and new perspectives in city government. I want to be a voice that represents everyone in our diverse community, especially those who feel that local government hasn’t been listening to them lately. I don’t believe our next council member should just be another politician, but someone who sees the council as I see it, an opportunity to serve and give back to a community that has done so much to support my family and me.
Top goals if you are elected? Public safety; economic development; helping the vulnerable and the homeless; fiscal accountability.
How do you get results? By listening and working with the citizens, other council members and the mayor; partnership with state, county, community-based organizations, churches and private organizations.
What do you think is the most important responsibility of a public official and why? I think the most important responsibility is to listen to the concerns of citizens and be the voice for them when participating at council meetings. Public officials are public servants, and they work for the citizens, not someone else.
Federal Way restaurant you are likeliest to be on the weekend? Linh Son restaurant.
Federal Way attraction/park you enjoy visiting on a weekend? Wild Waves during the summer. Five Mile Lake year round.
Best thing about living in Federal Way? The open spaces, parks, lakes, but most importantly the diversity of its people.
Contact information: Website — www.votehoangtran.org; phone — 253-218-5909; email — votehoangtran@gmail.com.
Sharry Edwards
Diana Noble-Gulliford
Jack Stanford
Hoang Tran
