Pete Kmet looks back on 30 years of civic service to Tumwater
On a rainy evening Dec. 15, dozens of people gathered at South Puget Sound Community College to celebrate and honor Pete Kmet’s 30-year tenure in Tumwater.
Though every story was different, they all shared similar sentiments about the retiring mayor: Kmet has become an institution, an encyclopedia and a mentor for the city.
Born in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, in 1953, Kmet earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Norwich University in Vermont. He went on to earn a master’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. While working with the Wisconsin DNR, Kmet said he went on vacation to Washington and fell in love.
He began applying for jobs and came across one in the newly formed Department of Ecology in Washington. He and his wife moved to Tumwater in 1984, started their family and haven’t moved since.
Kmet was elected the 42nd mayor of the City of Tumwater in 2009. Before that, he served on the City Council for 18 years and as Mayor Pro Tem for 14 of those years.
Thurston County Commissioner Tye Menser said Kmet’s longevity is something you don’t see often.
“Turnover is the word of the day, longevity is rare,” he said.
Menser shared a memory he has of Kmet on a sunny October morning in 2019.
The two were working with students at McLane Elementary School on a habitat mitigation project where they planted new oak trees. Menser said he remembers watching Kmet work with a small group of kids to plant their oaks, guiding them to ensure the trees were deep enough, to have the right amount of mulch and dirt, and cheering them on as they successfully planted their first tree.
“Getting his hands in the dirt, teaching the next generation and engaging in direct action that impacts the community in the long term all sum up Pete’s character,” he said. “A true environmental champion.”
Tumwater City Council member Eileen Swarthout said she doesn’t know anyone who likes campaigning more than Kmet does. She said he was always out meeting people at their homes and rallying communities to encourage citizens to vote.
She said his motto of “promises made, promises kept” shows his desire to make Tumwater the best place to live. She said she doesn’t think there’s any better mayor out there, jokingly apologizing to the other Thurston County mayors in the audience.
Swarthout said she shared Menser’s sentiment about Kmet getting his hands dirty. She said he can often be seen pulling weeds or picking up trash on Tumwater Hill.
“He’s an engineer, he knows it all,” she said. “We will miss you, Mr. Encyclopedia.”
Lt. Gov. Denny Heck said Kmet has won just about every community service award, and deservedly so. He said he wants there to be a public service leadership award named after Kmet and that he had left the city better than he found it.
“Just about everything of note that has occurred in Tumwater and sometimes beyond, for the past 30 years, has Pete’s signature on it,” he said.
Kmet said that never in his wildest dreams did he expect to run for office, let alone become mayor one day. It came about instead in his neighborhood activism. He said Ralph Osgood, the former mayor of Tumwater, was his neighbor and had convinced him to get more involved by running for City Council. Then down the road Osgood encouraged him to run for mayor.
He said he’s glad he’s been able to help the city of Tumwater accomplish a lot during his tenure. There are many projects Kmet spearheaded, including the restoration of the Old Brewhouse Tower and the launch of the Tumwater FRESH program.
Kmet said the iconic Brewhouse Tower had to be saved because of its history and ties to other architecture around the city, including City Hall and the fire station. He saw it as part of the fabric of the community, and he’s since learned of its important role in Tumwater and Washington State history, as a representation of the early Industrial period.
“History has always been an interest of mine, and this structure represents an important part of this community’s history,” he said.
One day Kmet said he was walking through Isabella Bush Park, where a small farm and barn is located. He knew the space wasn’t being used and had the idea to revitalize it as an educational opportunity for local schools. Out of that idea grew the FRESH program, which stands for Farm Rooted Education for Sustainability and Health.
The program, in partnership with Tumwater School District and GRuB in Olympia, works to “empower youth in taking control of their lives and being good citizens while creating opportunities for personal growth and building sustainable systems of food production,” according to TSD.
The food that students help grow and cultivate is given to school cafeterias, students and families in need, food banks and senior centers.
Kmet said he’s had parents reach out to him and say the FRESH program turned their child’s life around and set them on the right path.
During the retirement celebration, Kmet said his work was never about him, but about the citizens of Tumwater and the support he receives from his wife and son.
“There are times when you come home at night and it’s hard to sleep,” he said. “You worry if you said the right thing, if you said something stupid. But I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in Tumwater.”
Kmet said he thought 30 years just sounded right for the time to retire. He hopes to continue contributing to his community on a volunteer basis, but feels he’s done his fair share of contributing to the community in his role as mayor.
He’s confident Mayor-elect Debbie Sullivan will be capable of caring for the city, and the current City Council is strong enough to keep large projects moving forward.
From here, he said he has a long list of projects he needs to get done at home. He hopes to eventually volunteer with housing groups in Tumwater.
Kmet shared a story about being back at his college in Vermont for a class reunion. Several peers approached him saying that even the smallest thing he did for them changed their lives for the better. He said he’s proud he’s been able to touch so many lives — hopefully all for the better.
A statement of encouragement now sits on his desk: “We’re all destined to change people’s lives in ways we can’t even imagine today. Go forth and do great things.”
This story was originally published January 3, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
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