WHEREAS, Suzette Cooke has served the City of Kent as a leader in a series of important roles for more than 40 years; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Cooke graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in recreation administration as a founding student of Fairhaven College; and

WHEREAS, Suzette dedicated herself to the people of Kent by serving as the director of the Kent Chamber of Commerce, director of the Kent Senior Center, and recreation supervisor for athletics, arts, and people with developmental disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Cooke further worked on behalf of her community by serving three terms as a member of the state House of Representatives for Washington's 47th Legislative District; and

WHEREAS, Suzette Cooke was elected Kent's mayor in 2005; and

WHEREAS, 2017 marks the culmination of 12 years serving as mayor of the City of Kent; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Cooke showed her dedication to numerous issues by chairing the Valley Communications Center Board, the Kent Firemen's Relief and Pension Fund Board, the South County Area Transportation Board, and the King County Flood Control District Advisory Committee; and

WHEREAS, In addition to chairing four committees, Mayor Cooke served as a member on regional committees, including the Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board, Seattle-King County Economic Development Board, the South Sound Alliance; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Cooke maintained stability in the City of Kent during a period of significant population growth; and

WHEREAS, Early in Mayor Cooke's tenure she helped pave the way for the ShoWare Center, a multipurpose arena in Kent that hosts a wide variety of events that bring people in from surrounding areas to benefit the Kent community; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Cooke deftly navigated the threat of the Green River flooding due to a leak in the Howard Hanson Dam and protected the lives and livelihoods of people in the Green River floodplain; and

WHEREAS, Suzette has worked tirelessly to benefit the people of her community;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize Mayor Suzette Cooke's exceptional public service and dedication to the people of Kent.

I, Brad Hendrickson, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8719,

adopted by the Senate

February 22, 2018

BRAD HENDRICKSON

Secretary of the Senate