Where Renton stands today is in large part the work of King Parker, whose marketing skills are legendary and love for Renton unquestioned.

Now, he carefully explains the next stage in his life of service to his community.

“I am hanging up my political shoes,” he says. But make no mistake he’s not retiring from King and Bunny’s, the appliance store in the Highlands where he will now have more time to spend.

“I am looking forward to coming back and working full time right here at King and Bunny’s,” he says. “You can say that loud and clear.”

Health played no role in his decision to retire from the council, he said.

“I am certain that has always been a topic of conversation,” he said. He works seven days a week, morning to night. “I do that because I enjoy it. It’s not because I have to,” he said.

Parker announced before filing began for the 2011 primary election that he would not seek a fourth term on the Renton City Council. That created a rare open seat on the council – and a chance for new candidates to make their political case for election.

That’s exactly what Parker wants to happen.

“I think I have had a real impact on the community,” he says. But, he adds, “it’s time, quite frankly, for me to move on.”

It’s time for “some younger folks” to get involved, says Parker, who calls himself a young 72.

In essence the city is seeing the potential for a new generation of leaders to emerge. His council retirement allows one of those new leaders to gain important on-the-job experience to run the city.

But more change is potentially on the horizon. Parker is not making predictions, but an open mayor’s seat in four years could draw candidates from the City Council and it’s possible other council members could retire.

A new council member now would provide stability for the future, he said.

Arguably, Parker has been a stabilizing force on Renton’s civic life for nearly two decades. His contributions have not just come from the City Council dais.

His list of community involvement is long and represents leadership roles on committees and with organizations that have made a difference in the lives of people and businesses in Renton.

He’s stepping back from much of that community work, too. Just not all. He’s remaining active in the Renton Rotary Club. He wants to remain on the advisory board for the Communities in Schools of Renton, which he describes as a “great organization.”

A former president of the Renton Community Foundation, he says he’s “in touch” with the organization that has helped raise millions of dollars for charitable groups in Renton and supported them in other ways.

He wants to become more involved in the Renton Chamber of Commerce. That’s good news to Bill Taylor’s ears. In his tribute to Parker, the CEO and president of the Renton Chamber of Commerce wrote he intends to tap Parker for his “brand of sage advice that I value so highly.”

On a personal level, the former submarine sailor wants to get involved with an organization of submarine veterans.

But politics is out.

“I have absolutely zero political aspirations,” he said.

He still yens for the political job that eluded him, the Mayor’s Office. “Quite frankly, I would still love to be mayor,” he said. But, he said, “we have a fine mayor” in Denis Law.

Parker’s first foray into politics was in the early 1970s, when part of Renton’s East Hill and part of what is now Newcastle considered annexing. He ran for a three-member community council that would have veto power over land-use decisions, rather than the City Council. But the annexation went down in “glorious defeat,” as he put it.

He was president of the Sierra Heights PTA when his children were young. He was up against Don Jacobson for an appointment to the Renton School Board in the mid-1970s; Jacobson got the nod instead.

Then in the 1990s Parker decided to run for the City Council. He was “shocked” to spend about $7,000 on the election. He ran against Gerry Marsh and Jim Brundage in the primary, beating Brundage in the 1995 general election. He calls both men “quality guys” and felt fortunate to win.

Even then, a hot topic for the City of Renton was improving the city’s business climate and revitalizing downtown.

Parker is a founding member of the Blue Ribbon Committee that was formed after it become apparent Renton needed to make itself a friendlier place to do business. One result was a streamlined permitting process and innovative ideas that ultimately helped lead to significant growth in residential construction, Parker said.

The committee was a prelude to the Community Marketing Campaign Committee, which brought together the City of Renton, Valley Medical Center, the Renton School District, Renton Technical College and the Renton Chamber of Commerce to advance the interests of Renton and its business community.

It was during that era that the city’s Ahead of the Curve program was developed in a conference room at the Holiday Inn Select, led by Parker, fellow City Council member Tim Schlitzer and other community and business leaders.

“I consider that to be one of my major accommplishments,” Parker said of the Ahead of the Curve campaign.

The Saunderson Marketing Group (then known as Hamilton/Saunderson) was hired in 1998 and continues today to promote Renton, including the Renton FilmFrenzy.

“He has been an incredibly tireless and passionate supporter of keeping Renton ahead of the curve,” said Ken Saunderson, president of the Saunderson Marketing Group.

Parker ran unopposed in 1999 for his second term. He missed the campaigning, the chance to shake hands, he said. “I think scrutiny is good,” he said.

Four years later, with eight years on the City Council, he decided to run for mayor. He was ready. It was an open seat. His opponent was fellow City Council member, Kathy Keolker-Wheeler.”

“Initially, when I ran for office, that was the furthest thing from my mind,” he said of a mayoral race. He had this “thirst for knowledge” about municipal government; he sat on every council committee so he could learn the inner workings of the city.

“I thought I really had something to offer back to the community,” he said. “To tell you the truth, I thought it would be really fun.”

Keolker-Wheeler won, 55 percent to 45 percent. Parker had given up his council seat to run, so his political career was sidelined. But he intended to run again.

During those four years, “I still kept very involved with the community and felt that I still had something to offer.” He vowed to  never give up his seat again. But, as he retires, he points out that with age comes wisdom.

“What’s best for the city is exactly what I am doing,” he said.

In that final election for City Council in 2007, he beat Cheryl Haskins, with nearly 60 percent of the vote. Haskins raised about $58,000 to unseat Parker, whose warchest was about $13,600.

His political star power hadn’t diminished.

And in that same election Denis Law unseated Keolker-Wheeler, with 53 percent of the vote.

Known for his marketing prowess for King and Bunny’s, Parker mused on how well he has marketed himself politically.

“Not very good for the mayor’s race, but pretty good for the other two,” he said. “Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.”

Parker used his verbal skills as a salesman to debate the issues at City Council meetings. He also listened and he compromised. Once a decision was made, he was ready to move forward.

“King works to find the best in all people, but most of all he has earned the respect of the entire council as he is willing to ‘agree to disagree’ on the issues, while not taking the debate personal,” said fellow longtime council member Don Persson.

It’s clear Parker’s concern is for Renton and its citizens. Ask about his legacy as a government leader and he demures.

“I am just glad I had a chance to be able to serve the city. There you go. It’s been my honor.”

An open house for King Parker

A celebration Sunday (Sept. 25) will recognize King Parker’s years of service to the Renton community.  The event, an open house to visit with Parker, is 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at the Renton Senior Activity Center, 211 Burnett Ave. N. The $40 for a ticket at the door will go toward three of Parker’s favorite causes, the Renton Technical College Foundation, Communities in Schools of Renton and the Renton Community Foundation. Food and beverages will be provided.

THE TRIBUTES

The prototype

Renton is a city known for its strong sense of community, with very generous people who give of their personal time and financial support to make our city a special place. Nobody fits this mold better than King Parker. Through his years of service on the city council and involvement on more boards and committees than I can count, King has played a major role in transforming our city into a community where people desire to live, learn, work and play.

Mayor Denis Law

Selfless to core

I have been wondering for quite some time how I or anyone could express how incredibly unique King is and what a treasure he has been and will continue to be to our community. Frankly the feeling is here and deep-set but the words just won’t come out in a form that does justice to the feeling. How does one compare something that is incomparable? I’ve lived in Renton four different times, lived in 22 cities, in seven states and four countries and I have never encountered an individual so dedicated to a community and the vision held for that community as is King. Sure he may make some “Whammer Deals” as a result of that involvement but that isn’t why he does it, because in a word, he is selfless to the core (give or take a refrigerator or a washer). There is only one of him and I fully intend to intrude on his now plentiful spare time for the King brand of sage advice that I value so highly.

Bill Taylor, President and CEO, Renton Chamber of Commerce

Finding the best in everyone

King is one of the most loved and respected people I know, he has earned this honor by being open to all people and all  suggestions.  He then relates them into how can the council make the best decision for the “entire” community, with this openness he has been able to shape city policy.  King works to find the best in all people, but most of all he has earned the respect of the entire council as he is willing to “agree to disagree” on the issues, while not taking the debate personal.  He is a very professional and caring person.

Don Persson, Renton City Council

Heart of passion

King Parker has spent years contributing time, talent, and resources in helping the Renton Community Foundation (RCF) grow and prosper King served three continuous terms on the board of directors including two years as board chairperson. During King’s tenure as board chair, more than 10 funds were added and total assets under management grew by more than  $2 million. In addition, King served continuously on the foundation’s finance committee. For the past seven years, King has chaired the foundation’s Circle of Giving Program, raising well over $150,000 that went back into the community. King has a “from the heart passion” to support the foundation’s mission which is to strengthen and expand philanthropy as a way to improve the quality of life in the greater Renton area. The RCF and the greater Renton area are so much better off now and in the future through the tireless efforts of King Parker. THANK YOU KING.

James V. Medzegian,  Renton Community Foundation, Board Chairperson

King Parker’s community involvement

Kingsley Parker’s service to the Renton community spans more than 40 years.

• PTA president, Sierra Heights Elementary School

• Kiwanis Club, board member

• Renton Chamber of Commerce, board member

• City of Renton Board of Adjustment

• Renton Rotary Club, board member

• Blue Ribbon Committee, founding member

• Puget Sound Access Channel 17, board member

• City of Renton Fireman’s Pension Fund, board member

• Salvation Army Food Bank Committee, member

• Community in Schools of Renton, board member, mentor

• Renton Technical College Foundation, board member

• Renton Community Foundation, board member, past president

• City of Renton LEOFF Board, board member

• King County Regional Water Quality committee, memer

• Suburban City Association Public Issues Committee, member

• Renton City Council, served as president and on all council committees

• Neighborhood Program lemonade “schlepper”

• 1999 Citizen of the Year

• 2004 PTSA Outstanding Service Award