Asher Challenges Briere in City Council Race

Longtime Renton resident and business woman Beth Asher announced on Friday, May 17 her candidacy for Renton City Council.

Asher, 60, announced that she has filed nomination papers to run for City Council Position 6, one of three seats in the 2013 Renton municipal election. She will challenge incumbent Terri Briere for the Position 6 seat. According to a campaign press release, Asher will promote an open, transparent government where all Renton residents' input is actively welcomed.

"I'm excited and proud to inform my family, friends, and Renton community neighbors, that I have officially filed my candidacy papers as of Thursday the 17th," Asher said. "As a council member I will welcome input from individual residents, businesses and community groups so that I can respond to our diverse community interests and needs.  I would like to promote an, open, transparent government process where the input of Renton residents is actively sought."
 
A website for her campaign, www.AsherForRenton.org, will also soon be up and running in the next week or two to inform voters of her campaign.

Under the slogan, “Diverse Heritage/Common Opportunities,” Asher pledged she would also incorporate the many cultures and interest groups of the community — including business, community and residential groups — in developmental processes.

"Being a business woman, I know the importance of strong businesses for the well-being of our community," she said. "Their provision of goods and services, jobs, tax-base and non-profit support helps make Renton a great place to live. I would like to see all groups within Renton's boundaries working on interrelated issues that they couldn't address on their own. As a council member I'd work to help residents harness resources and pull together to impact issues beyond the grasp of their single groups."

Asher and her family - her husband Norm, daughter Lauren and son Bryan - have lived in Renton for 39 years. Her daughter Lauren and grandson Conor have settled in Renton after a stint in California. Beth currently works as a whole goods brokerage assistant and is an owner and officer of RSGo Inc. LLC, a disaster preparedness company.  

A believer in community action, Beth has volunteered for Special Olympics, helped friends throw the annual Kiwanis pancake breakfast, been a Crop Walker and worked for the Heart Association annual fund drive.  Beth was a co-coordinator with the Save the Renton Library initiative campaign. Her children have also been community volunteers. 

Her daughter Lauren volunteered for Way Back Inn while at Kennedy High School and her son volunteered his time at a retirement home.

"I believe in encouraging Renton residents to volunteer, support, and be a part of their city. We have a great history of volunteerism," she said. "As a council member I want to promote involvement by our diverse population in city-wide issues so that the majority will benefit from being able to bring a larger focus to a wide range of concerns. Residents working together can be a powerful force for the future of our community."