Kent candidates prioritize public safety: hiring, community policing and targeting recidivists

Candidates running for Kent City Council emphasized public safety as a primary campaign issue and outlined differing approaches to policing and crime prevention.

Logan Evans, a candidate for Kent City Council position 6, said he supports local efforts to counter what he described as state-level legislation that he considers “pro-criminal.” He said he would “work with [the council] and develop my own policies… to reduce crime, target recidivists, and make this a city safe for those who are good.”

Sharan Shoker, a candidate for Kent City Council position 6, said “Public safety is a top priority for me. I support efforts to hire more police officers, and I strongly support expanding efforts to embed our officers into the community.” She also argued that addressing root causes such as homelessness, mental health and unemployment can reduce strain on the justice system.

Jamie Lee, a candidate for Kent City Council position 6, emphasized nonpolicing supports that she said would ease pressure on first responders, calling for “coordination with proactive recovery programs, improved lighting and street presence, and support systems that help those struggling with addiction and mental health and ease that demand on our first responders.”

No motions, ordinances or staffing decisions were proposed or voted on during the meeting; the transcript records campaign statements and public comment rather than council directives.

The candidates framed a mix of enforcement and service-based strategies; details such as hiring targets, budgets for additional officers, or specific program designs were not provided in the transcript.