OLYMPIA, WA – The Association of Washington Cities (AWC), an Olympia-based organization advocating on behalf of Washington’s 281 cities and towns, announced the legislative recipients of its annual City Champion Awards.

City Champion Awards acknowledge the hard work and dedication of state legislators who championed critical city issues during the 2021 legislative session. Eleven legislators received the award this year.

“Ensuring strong communities throughout the state is not simply a local issue, especially given the challenges experienced in cities of every size throughout the pandemic,” said Peter B. King, AWC Chief Executive Officer. “It is critical that our friends in the Legislature work alongside city mayors and councilmembers to provide tools to enhance local economic vitality, help address affordable housing, and maintain local decision-making authority.”

The champions were recognized at the AWC Annual Conference in June. This year’s recipients and award grounds are detailed below.

Representative Davina Duerr

Rep. Duerr is always willing to speak up for city issues within the Legislature. She uses her unique perspective as a sitting councilmember and is a strong member of the City/County Champions Caucus. This year, Rep. Duerr worked collaboratively to develop a proposal to integrate climate change into the Growth Management Act, incorporating city feedback as the legislation evolved. Rep. Duerr was engaged in several other bills important to cities, including as prime sponsor of the Tax Increment Financing bill and the 1% property tax cap revision bill. Finally, she was a key ally in representing the city perspective on legislation that would have expanded liability costs.

Representative Jake Fey

Rep. Fey led the effort to introduce and move a transportation revenue package through the Legislature that included significant investments for cities. He worked diligently to understand cities’ perspectives and had an open-door policy to keep cities apprised on the process and top-of-mind for legislators.

Representative Matt Boehnke

Rep. Boehnke is an important voice for cities in his caucus. As a big supporter of local economic development, Rep. Boehnke was the cosponsor of this year’s Tax Increment Financing proposal and a key supporter in helping the bill to pass into law. As a former city councilmember, he appreciates the challenge of making city budgets work and he’s always willing to look for solutions that help cities.

Representative Gina Mosbrucker

Rep. Mosbrucker provided a balanced voice on police reform in the Legislature. She worked with her caucus and across party lines to help mediate and negotiate compromise on key bills, specifically in helping with the K-9 compromise on HB 1054.

Representative Alex Ramel

Rep. Ramel led efforts to move a complicated and controversial expansion of the multifamily tax exemption through the House. He worked hard to accommodate city perspectives and improve housing policy for the state. Ultimately, Rep. Ramel succeeded in securing strong bipartisan support.

Senator Mona Das

Sen. Das led efforts to move a complicated and controversial expansion of the multifamily tax exemption through the Senate. She worked hard to accommodate city perspectives and improve housing policy for the state. Ultimately, Sen. Das succeeded in securing strong bipartisan support.

Senator David Frockt

Sen. Frockt is a strong supporter of economic development and infrastructure for local government. His support for the Public Works Trust Fund is a key reason that the program was funded at its highest levels in years. Additionally, as sponsor of the Senate version of the Tax Increment Financing bill, his support was crucial to the bill’s success. As a leader in developing the legislative budget, Sen. Frockt appreciates the challenge of making city budgets work and he’s always willing to look for solutions that help cities.

Senator Sharon Brown

Sen. Brown has been a long-time supporter of economic development tools. Her strong backing of the economic development efforts in her district and around the state have helped to ensure continued legislative focus. As a former city councilmember, she knows the importance city officials place on economic vitality for their communities. She has historically sponsored bills to authorize Tax Increment Financing in Washington. Her consistent and ongoing support was key to ultimately passing the Tax Increment Financing bill this year.

Senator Mark Mullet

Sen. Mullet is an important voice for cities in his caucus. A big supporter of economic development, he cosponsored the Senate version of the Tax Increment Financing bill and was a key player in helping the bill to pass. As a former city councilmember, Sen. Mullet provides a valuable voice for local government and is a strong advocate for local funding and decision-making authority.

Senator Keith Wagoner

Sen. Wagoner was the key advocate for HB 1054, to remove mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles from the list of prohibited items that local police departments can receive as surplus military equipment. He worked across the aisle and across the rotunda to make sure that the amendment adopted in the Senate would also be accepted in the House. As a former mayor, Sen. Wagoner brings a unique perspective to legislative discussions and is an important voice in his caucus on how legislation impacts cities, particularly smaller cities.

Senator Shelly Short

Sen. Short helped secure a new annexation method that supports collaboration and cooperation between cities and counties. She also advocated for local government interests across issues throughout the legislative session. Sen. Short appreciates the challenges facing local government and is always willing to work with cities on solutions.

AWC congratulates all our award winners and thanks them for their partnership with cities during the 2021 legislative session!

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AWC serves its members through advocacy, education, and services. Founded in 1933, AWC is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation that represents Washington's cities and towns before the state legislature, the state executive branch, and with regulatory agencies. Membership is voluntary. However, AWC consistently maintains 100 percent participation from Washington’s 281 cities and towns.

AWC also provides training, data and publications, and programs such as the AWC Employee Benefit Trust, AWC Risk Management Service Agency, AWC Workers’ Comp Retro, AWC Drug and Alcohol Consortium, and AWC GIS Consortium.