Sandra Kent was appointed to the Richland City Council in February 2008 to fill a vacancy and elected in November 2009 to complete the unexpired term. Prior to her appointment, Sandra served on the Richland Planning Commission for two years.

Sandra has lived in the Tri-Cities since 1999. She is originally from Kansas City and graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning and from the University of Kansas with a Juris Doctor. She is licensed to practice law in Washington and Colorado.

She brings to Council more than 20 years of regulatory compliance and management experience. Through her career at various U.S. Department of Energy facilities, she has extensive background and experience with regulatory issues, compliance negotiations and management of complex hazardous / toxic waste clean-up projects. She is currently Deputy Chief Counsel for Mission Support Alliance.

Sandra is active in the community. She previously served as the past president and board member of the Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities. She also served on the United Way Board and the Community Solutions Team.

Sandra is also a graduate of the Leadership Tri-Cities Program, Class XII. Other local non-profit organizations she supports include Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, LINKS Tri-Cities, and the Edith Bishel Center for the Blind.