November 3, 2025 Update: We distributed surveys to likely voters in District 1, and have so far received 14 surveys back in the mail, as well as 31 online submissions including candidate Jeff Bennett and a couple of his surrogates. Comments from the District 1 surveys are shared at the bottom of this page as volunteer time allows, , and you can click on our final blog post of the campaign season to see survey results including candidate preferences.
Incumbent City Council Member Jim Kastama lead the effort to raise several taxes and fees in 2024-25 without asking the public. Puyallup Voters for Integrity wants to know if District 1 voters are aware of the new taxes and fees, whether voters agree, and if the tax increases affect who we should support in the current election.
Individual responses will be kept 100% confidential. We will publish blog posts each Tuesday through election day with general survey result updates. Results of the survey will be used to inform PV4I on where to direct future resources to help keep candidates accountable when they are elected to city council. If you are in District 2 or District 3, please click to complete the survey for your area.
Click here to start the District 1 Survey
Text of District 1 Survey:
1. For your responses to count in this poll, please type your name and voting address so we can cross reference with the county’s voter registration list for Puyallup’s District 1. Your responses will be kept 100% private. Click here to take the survey.
2. Jim Kastama lead the effort to increase city property taxes by 6% in a procedural maneuver called “banking” from years when past councils did not raise taxes, resulting in an increase of our city portion of property taxes from $1.00 per $1,000 house value in 2024, to $1.08 per $1,000 in 2025. He also proposed and voted to increase taxes on our electricity and gas from 4.2% to what is now 6.3% on our bills, and well as increased Xfinity/Comcast fees from 3.4% to 5%. He also voted to cut 7 staff positions including one from the senior center causing the end of Activity Center Rentals to the public, two library positions resulting in the end of external library projects like school collaborations, and four other positions including the elimination of the city’s Economic Development Manager. These tax increases and cuts to staff unrelated to the police department were part of a proposal to renovate and rent a building on South Hill for a new police station. Adding up itemized costs on the city website, the project over 30 years is projected to be $73.5 million for Puyallup taxpayers. In comparison, the 2023 bond measure to build a police station and jail on land we still own (and rejected by 56.37% of District 1 voters, with 52.51% voting “no” citywide) would have cost approximately $44 million for the police station (specifically, a projected $35 million for the police station, plus a projected $9 million in shared groundbreaking costs with a jail if they had added that for another projected $31 million). In addition, Jim Kastama approved the city to send out a Request for Qualification (RFQ) proposal last month to renovate our current city jail at an unknown cost, despite maintaining throughout the 2021-23 campaigns that the old jail was not feasible to renovate.
Do you agree with all, some, or none of Jim Kastama’s tax increases and staffing cuts for a rented police station, and more to come for jail renovations?Click here to take the survey.
3. If you would like to have us include reasons for your opinion about Kastama’s tax increases and staffing cuts when we post our next Tuesday survey update, please describe the things you agree with, and what you disagree with. All responses will remain anonymous. Click here to take the survey.
4. Last year, Jim Kastama directed city council to circumvent state restrictions on sales tax increases by voting to create a new Transportation Tax District without its own elected commissioners, and instead made city council the de-facto commissioners, then increased sales taxes from 10.1% to 10.2% in the City of Puyallup.
Do you agree with all, some, or none of Jim Kastama’s actions creating the new tax district without voter approval, that city council should control decisions of the tax district, and that he imposed a .1% sales tax increase within city limits? Click here to take the survey.
5. If you would like to have us include reasons for your opinion about Kastama’s creation of the Transportation Tax District when we post our next Tuesday survey update, please describe what you agree with, and the aspects you disagree with. All responses will remain anonymous. Click here to take the survey.
6. Jim Kastama increased city utility fees, and changed the frequency of when we city residents have to pay, from every-other-month, to every month, with water rates raised 7.5% from 2024, sewer rates up 5.5%, and the stormwater rate up 16.5% according to footnote on our January and February utility bills. Kastama says on his facebook page that he directed the city to use $600,000 in sewer and stormwater fees for a $5 million project to rebuild one block of 9th Ave SW into a “festival street” for the fair this year, just 4 years after that same block was completely rebuilt under his watch, wasting the $2 million he spent from our general street fund at that time.
Do you agree with all, some, or none of the utility fee increases, expenditures, and bill frequency decisions Jim Kastama made over the last 2 years while he took his turn as mayor? Click here to take the survey.
7. If you would like to have us include reasons for your opinion about Kastama’s utility fee increases, billing frequency change, and festival street expenditure when we post our next Tuesday survey update, please describe the aspects you agree with, and what you disagree with. All responses will remain anonymous. Click here to take the survey.
8. Jeff Bennett, a retired Puyallup Police Officer in a second career bidding projects in the solar industry, is running to replace Jim Kastama as District 1 council representative. His website lists Fiscal Responsibility as his top issue, and includes blog posts criticizing the incumbent for the festival street expense, cuts to Senior Center parking and staff, and other topics. Please select if you prefer Kastama, Bennett, or neither of the candidates running for Puyallup City Council representing District 1. Click here to take the survey.
9. If you would like to have us anonymously include the reasons for your candidate preference in our next Tuesday survey update, please share: Click here to take the survey.
10. Please include your contact information if you would like to receive final survey results, and stay informed of future Puyallup Voters for Integrity projects: Click here to take the survey.
If you are registered to vote in the City of Puyallup but not in District 1, please click the link below corresponding to your voting district. See map for reference. Puyallup Voters for Integrity will publish blog posts every Tuesday through election day with updates on the district surveys. If you live inside city limits and are not registered to vote, first go to https://www.piercecountywa.gov/6572/Register-to-Vote and then click for the District survey corresponding to your address.
• District 1 Survey – Click if you are registered to vote inside Puyallup City Council District 1 boundaries. The survey focuses on the actions of the incumbent Jim Kastama who is taking a 2 year turn leading the council as mayor. Running to unseat him is candidate Jeff Bennett, a retired Puyallup Police Officer now working in the solar industry who lists fiscal responsibility as the first priority on his website’s issue page.
• District 2 Survey – Click if you are registered to vote inside Puyallup City Council District 2 boundaries. The survey focuses on the actions of the incumbent Dennis King who is taking a 2 year turn on the council as deputy mayor. Running to unseat him is candidate Heather Schiller, former chair of the Puyallup Planning Commission and an insurance industry professional who lists fiscal responsibility second on her website’s issue page after infrastructure improvements.
• District 3 Survey – Click if you are registered to vote in Puyallup City Council District 3 boundaries. The survey focuses on two candidates running for an open seat as incumbent Julie Door is term-limited. Running with no website but claims of support on his facebook page from a majority of other city council members is candidate Mark Crosby, versus candidate Lindsay Smolko who is a STEM Teacher emphasizing on her website equity, inclusivity, and transparency in local government.
District 1 Survey Comments Received Oct 15-Nov 5, 2025
Regarding Question #3 – Responses from candidates, multiple members of the same household, and from officials with vested interests have been withheld for now, but we will include those on election day after self-identifying comments are edited out. Otherwise, these are ALL the comments received via the online District 1 Survey portal for Question #3 through Oct. 21st.
The question: If you would like to have us include reasons for your opinion about Kastama’s tax increases and staffing cuts when we post our next Tuesday survey update, please describe the things you agree with, and what you disagree with:
| 2025-10-14 | taxation without representation |
| 2025-10-15 | I agree that Puyallup should keep its municipal jail. |
| 2025-10-17 | I don’t agree with property tax increases, I do agree with cutting staff because the police aren’t enforcing the law enough as it is. We don’t need a new jail because they aren’t arresting enough. |
| 2025-10-19 | The voters of Puydllup voted against the new police station. |
| 2025-10-21 | In short I disagree with all of it. I do not agree with what the tax increases and staff cuts are going towards. I have no interest in a new police station, especially since we did not vote on favor of it. I also disagree with the property tax increases, because it will hurt working class families the most. I also disagree with the staff cuts, as these positions bring income in for working people, and help increase the integrity of Puyallup overall. |
| 2025-10-23 | We voted no to the new police station and jail three times!! Instead of giving us another option to consider Kastama went behind our backs and dove into our pockets to get what he wanted, to include a rented building that we’re funding the improvements on. This is an absolutely ridiculous financial decision. |
| 2025-10-24 | Proposal was voted down |
| 2025-10-24 | Lasts it’s costing us more than the original levy would have and I voted in favor of the bond…. |
| 2025-10-25 | We need our elected representatives to follow voter directives. This is a democracy not a dictatorship. |
| 2025-10-25 | The rented police station is a bad idea to begin with, increasing taxes and cutting staff positions to help support it behind the voters’ backs is really bad |
| 2025-10-28 | I agree that Puyallup needs a new public safety building to support our officers and the community, but I believe the City must carefully weigh the long-term benefits and overall cost efficiency of any plan. Public safety is essential, yet major capital decisions should reflect a sustainable approach that considers not only today’s needs but also what’s financially responsible for residents decades from now. It’s important that we explore options that make the most of existing city-owned property, minimize long-term debt, and prioritize investments that deliver lasting value to the community. Transparency, fiscal prudence, and a clear connection between spending and public benefit should guide how we move forward. |
| 2025-10-29 | I need council members who are gonna listen to the vote of its people! I need council members that are not gonna follow the national lead of a president that does not represent all of its country! This district that I live in Kamala Harris one I do not want any of our decisions made in this area to be based on Maga |
| 2025-10-29 | I am against everything he says! NO TAX INCREASES! |
Regarding Question #5 – Responses from candidates, multiple members of the same household, and from officials with vested interests have been withheld for now, but we will include those on election day after self-identifying comments are edited out. Otherwise, these are ALL the comments received via the online District 1 Survey portal for Question #5 through Oct. 21st.
The question: If you would like to have us include reasons for your opinion about Kastama’s creation of the Transportation Tax District when we post our next Tuesday survey update, please describe what you agree with, and the aspects you disagree with:
| 2025-10-15 | What even is a transportation tax district? |
| 2025-10-17 | Include the people’s voting opinion before such decisions |
| 2025-10-21 | I disagree with all of it |
| 2025-10-28 | It’s deeply concerning that decisions with such lasting financial impact are being made without meaningful public input. The city has not sufficiently gathered community feedback or created transparent opportunities for residents to weigh in before approving new taxes and large-scale projects. When leadership acts without open dialogue or consideration of the people they represent, it begins to feel like decisions are being made from an ivory tower rather than in partnership with the community. Puyallup deserves a process where residents are informed, engaged, and respected—not simply presented with outcomes after the fact. Good governance means involving the public early and often, especially when tax increases and long-term financial commitments are at stake. |
| 2025-10-29 | I disagree with everything he says. NO TAX INCREASES! |
Regarding Question #7 – Responses from candidates, multiple members of the same household, and from officials with vested interests have been withheld for now, but we will include those on election day after self-identifying comments are edited out. Otherwise, these are ALL the comments received via the online District 1 Survey portal for Question #7 through Oct. 21st.
The question: If you would like to have us include reasons for your opinion about Kastama’s utility fee increases, billing frequency change, and festival street expenditure when we post our next Tuesday survey update, please describe the aspects you agree with, and what you disagree with.
| 2025-10-15 | I hate that the fair got a festival street right away, even though the city has been planning one on Meeker street for a decade. |
| 2025-10-17 | Wasteful spending. We have pioneer park for festivals. Misuse of funding should be ashamed and prosecuted |
| 2025-10-19 | The project on 9th Ave SW was a total waste. We went to the fair this year, parked on that side of the fairgrounds and the “improvements” made ZERO difference in our “pedestrian experience”. Utility fee increases should also be spent on improving the ease of paying our City of Puyallup water/sewer bill online. The current system to pay the bill online is exceedingly difficult. |
| 2025-10-21 | This will hurt working families. I disagree with all of it. |
| 2025-10-28 | With so many tax and fee increases happening all at once, it’s no wonder residents are feeling the strain. Between higher utility rates, more frequent billing, and multiple new taxes, families and small businesses in Puyallup are being asked to shoulder a lot—without a clear explanation of long-term benefit or community input. Rebuilding the same block twice in just a few years, while redirecting essential utility funds to nonessential projects, raises serious questions about fiscal responsibility and priorities. Residents deserve transparency and a real voice in these decisions before more money is spent. The city should focus on essential infrastructure, public safety, and cost-effective planning—not projects that seem driven by short-term visibility rather than lasting community value. |
| 2025-10-29 | NO TAX INCREASES! |
| 2025-10-31 | While I appreciate the change in billing frequency—it makes budgeting for our water bill easier—I do not agree with anything else in regards to fee increases or festival street expenditures |
Regarding Question #9 – Candidate Preference: District 1 Comments on Candidate Preference – Jeff Bennett vs Jim Kastama
| 2025-10-15 | Kastama has been around too long, and I disagree with … DEI ideas that Bennett has |
| 2025-10-17 | We are being property taxed out of our homes. |
| 2025-10-20 | After seeing the current mayor do these things without public input, or worse yet, ignore public input to go full-on MAGA, I believe Jeff will be a completely transparent and capable person who will listen (he is already listening) to the people. Let’s get him on the Council and repair our city. |
| 2025-10-21 | Jim Kastama is out of touch and does not have Puyallup families best interests in mind. Jeff Bennett is for the people. |
| 2025-10-23 | Jim Kastama is a career politician. He’s never had boots on the ground handling issues that plague our city. Instead, he’s judged from the dias. Kastama has a history of making unilateral decision that go against the citizen’s communicated will. Kastama is more and more straying from his democratic routes to proactively following the current administrations executive orders. Simply, he’s more aligned with MAGA than his dem roots or even a more centrist Republican Party. |
| 2025-10-24 | I’m also very concerned about the language in the City Charter (Comprehensive Plan) concerning minorities and the Puyallup tribe. |
| 2025-10-25 | In all my interactions with Jeff, he has come across as a genuinely caring person. Jim has never come across as genuine. |
| 2025-10-28 | Jeff listens to people. |
| 2025-10-29 | I’m voting for a man of integrity, Jeff Bennett has been a public servant successfully in Puyallup for many years. His passion for community and willingness to involve his constituents is why he gets my vote! |
| 2025-10-31 | I prefer Bennett but really dislike the focus on policing and public safety. |
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