'I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring' - TV personality John Curley to run for Sammamish Council

TV personality John Curley told The Reporter today that he will run for a spot on the Sammamish City Council when elections are held in November.

Curley is best known as the host of King 5's Evening Magazine program, a role that has earned him numerous awards for broadcasting and community involvement. Curley, 47, was told by King 5 a few months ago that his contract wouldn’t be renewed.

"Yes, I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring," the gregarious and straight-talking Curley said on Thursday. "I haven't decided which seat yet."

"Now that I've got more time on my hands, I thought I'd get involved with what's going on up here."

And it seems politics is an inherited urge that he could not shake.

When asked how long he had been considering running for council, Curley said "since I was 18."

"I've always loved politicis. Like some people follow sports, I follow politics."

"My grandfather was the mayor of a small town in Pennsylvania, Bala Cynwyd."

Bala Cynwyd, where Curely grew up, lies in the Welsh Tract of Pennsylvania, and was settled in the 1680s by Welsh Quaker settlers.

Curley said that the new Sammamish town center, and the changing access to Pine Lake, were some of the issues that he had been keeping a close eye on in recent months.

"A lot of people are figuring out that this is a great place to live," he said. "Growth, generally, is something that we will have to decide on, development, and taxes. What direction are we heading in?"

Referring to the conflict points between development and environmental preservation, Curley said "it's a balancing act. It's easy to protect these places, but how can we also enjoy them?"

"We can't just put a plexiglass bubble over everything."

Curley, who says he "saw the light," and moved to Sammamish four years ago, lives here with his wife and two children.

"I'm just going in to meet with my campaign manager," he told The Reporter. "I'll talk with you more later."

No doubt it will be interesting to hear what he has to say.

Contact Sammamish Reporter Editor Jake Lynch at editor@sammamish-reporter.com.

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