SOAP LAKE - Kat Sanderson is running for Soap Lake council position 2 because she believes the city deserves better than it's getting from the current council and she can make a difference.

"I feel that our quality of life is diminishing in Soap Lake, with crumbling streets, increasing crime, reduced police force, struggling small businesses, little to no shopping available and a less than adequate job market," she said. "With my background in economic development, marketing and promotion, I believe these issues can be effectively addressed."

Sanderson has been a realtor for nine years and currently serves as a local director on the Grant County Realtor Association's board of directors. She has owned and managed a golf course in Odessa and now co-owns a local real estate business.

She once served as secretary of the Ice Age Flood Institute and as Odessa's Economic Development Director, and is currently a member of several local organizations including the Soap Lake Businessman's Club, Ephrata Chamber of Commerce and Grant County Economic Development Council.

Sanderson describes herself as an enthusiastic, quick learner who has created solid business, community and government contacts in the area.

Sanderson developed the contacts by listening, she said, pointing to two town hall meetings she helped organize with the group "Five For The Future," a coalition of Soap Lake candidates who plan on working together to better the city.

"My strategy has been to listen to the citizens with an open mind, identify specific issues that are of concern to them and look at solutions that may well address their concerns," she said.

Soap Lake is a "special place" with much to offer, Sanderson said, including a healing lake, medical facility, arts organizations and unique businesses. But she believes the city has lost much of its citizen base and economic vitality in recent years, and said the city council must take it upon themselves to make Soap Lake more attractive, vibrant and progressive.

"The city council has stated that it is not in the city's job description to promote tourism, but the (chamber of commerce's)," she said. "I disagree."

The Lava Lamp project has brought a large amount of publicity to town without having even been built yet, and Sanderson said it should continue to be viewed as a partnership between the city and private entities.

If elected, Sanderson said she would work to promote the healing qualities of the lake, bring back canceled events and create new ones and encourage new businesses to come to town.

She would also aim to address what she sees as crumbling infrastructure, seek upgrades to the city sewer system and more effectively deal with gang issues by bringing additional trained officers onto the city police force, she said.

Challenger De Vaun Black didn't respond to questions asked by the Columbia Basin Herald.