Her creative side regularly pops out interesting ideas while her analytical side sifts the other person’s point of view.
Her patience, determination and skills often lead to workable solutions.
Part-artist, part-politician, Sue Singer likes to get the full picture, as she says, for the common good.
Singer calls this innate gift for bridging the gap between powerful people “consensus building.” Admirers call it an art form in itself.
“It’s important to get everybody going in the same direction,” said Singer, formerly an art major at the University of Washington and today a versatile member of the Auburn City Council. “It’s important to find partners and work together. It’s important to look ahead.”
Soft spoken and brimming with energy, the pragmatic Singer plays a key role in local and regional government. In her 14 years of service on the Council and on regional committees, she has accomplished a lot.
“Sue is respectful of everyone; she is not a pretentious leader,” said colleague Rich Wagner, who has worked alongside her since she began the first of her four terms in 1995. “She does her homework. She doesn’t shrink from analyzing details while still maintaining a big-picture approach, both from a human point of view and from a city finances’ point of view, throughout the consideration of any subject.”
For Singer, there is always some unfinished business – especially now with a downtown sector undergoing redevelopment and other growth-related projects awaiting resolution.
“I am easily bored, and there’s always something new in politics,” she said. “And I like being connected with people.”
Active in many groups
As a part-time city leader, Singer wears many hats. She can be found leading and helping several committees at a time, from tourism to public works, from community center planning to downtown redevelopment.
“She’s extremely organized and totally focused on promoting Auburn,” said Debbie Luce, tourism marketing coordinator for the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce. “She has a particular love of the tourism industry and what we have accomplished here.”
Singer also provides insight for many service organizations and volunteers substantial time to charitable causes, especially those involving women and girls. Over the years she has served as a mentor to many young women, including more than a dozen exchange students from around the world.
“I’m a real glutton for punishment,” Singer said of her contributions. “I have so many ideas, and those ideas always lead to more involvement.”
And so many hopes and dreams.
Auburn is trying to reestablish its significance by making its downtown a draw again. Singer, confident the sector will blossom once more, encourages new business while respecting the wishes of established ones.
“It will take awhile,” Singer said of the Main Street metamorphosis.”I don’t think you will recognize it in five years. Government involvement in economic development takes time. It’s slow paced, but I’ve learned you can’t rush it, or it will cause problems.”
Admirers say that fixing problems and planning and managing growth are her fortes. As the city deals with a larger population, there remain assorted transportation issues and concerns about aging infrastructure.
For instance, Singer recently amplified the call to improve the regional truck route system. She is trying to engage the trucking industry and ports to address the worn freight corridors and find a funding mechanism to maintain the arterials.
“From a business standpoint, Sue is an innovative problem-solver,” said City Councilmember Lynn Norman. “Her understanding of long-range planning, looking not just to the next five years, but the next 20-30 years, has proven a valuable asset to the city and the region.
“If you asked me one word to describe Sue, I would answer, ‘fighter.’ She loves a challenge and doesn’t back down when she thinks something is the right thing to do,” Norman said.
Regional government maintains its grip on Singer’s attention. For the past two years, she has played a major role as president of the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC), the Federal Metropolitan Planning Organization that conducts long-range planning for transportation, growth management and economic development in Snohomish, King, Pierce and Kitsap counties. She served on the PSRC governing board of the PSRC as a delegate from the King County Suburban Cities Association, representing 800,000 people.
The regional council just determined which projects will receive a piece of the $79 million federal “stimulus” money authorized to the four counties.
Getting a world view
Singer has traveled internationally to exchange ideas with politicians and leadership groups about economic development.
“Sue has been instrumental in effecting change in the growth management criteria for a four-county region,” said Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis. “That’s a big deal all in itself.”
Singer will vacate the presidency later this month but will remain a part of the PSRC. A strong leader with a good fiscal mind, Singer has left her mark.
“She has a remarkable and admirable work ethic,” said Bob Drewell, PSRC executive director who has worked with Singer for about 12 years. “She has an an abundance of patience and skills that not too many people are blessed with.”
Taking on big projects
She intends to continue being a major player. For example, she is currently promoting her idea for a federal grant proposal that would connect “green job” business incubators in three counties with research institutions and workforce development. She hopes to bring $10 million dollars to Auburn’s Environmental Park and Green Zone.
Added Councilmember Nancy Backus: “Sue is one of those extraordinary people that every community should have. She truly cares about what happens – not just locally, but regionally to ensure that we all have the best opportunities possible.”
Mayorship doesn’t interest Singer now, but it might four years from now.
“I like to keep my options open,” said Singer, who serves today as deputy mayor. “Pete and I share the same vision. We have been able to accomplish a lot the last few years.”
A part of the community for 30 years, Sue and her husband, Lee Singer, a successful businessman, raised two sons, who now are raising families of their own in Auburn.
In her precious spare time away from politics, Singer enjoys gardening, reading, cycling and spending moments with her four grandchildren.
Singer once pursued a career in graphic design, even owned a sign company, before getting involved in politics.
She still practices art, but the medium is her interaction with people, getting them to move in the same direction.
Some days are never long enough to accomplish certain things.
“I get burned out, I step back,” she said. “But I get energized with new ideas. I get passionate about those ideas. I get exhilarated about ideas.”
Singer seldom catches her breath.
“I try to celebrate the accomplishments, but I’m not very good at that because I am always interested in the next project,” she said. “I’m always looking ahead.”
