OLYMPIA – The Association of Washington Cities (AWC) announced that Port Orchard Mayor Rob Putaansuu was recently elected AWC president. The president leads the association’s Board of Directors and executive committee “It is a tremendous honor to be elected president of the Association of Washington Cities,” said President Rob Putaansuu. “I will continue to be an ambassador and a passionate advocate for the priorities established by our members, making sure that all voices are heard. I’m hitting the ground running by actively participating at the local, regional, state, and national levels to further ensure AWC’s priorities are advanced.”

AWC held Board elections at the association’s Business Meeting, which took place at AWC’s Annual Conference in Vancouver, Washington, on June 23.

“Mayor Putaansuu has a rich history with strong leadership experience in both the public and private sectors,” said AWC Chief Executive Officer Deanna Dawson. “I’m excited to work with the mayor as he guides the direction of the Board.”

Mayor Putaansuu has served on the AWC Board since 2018. Mayor Putaansuu was elected to the Port Orchard City Council in 2007 and elected mayor of Port Orchard in 2015.

The AWC Board of Directors is the association’s governing body. The Board is comprised of 25 directors, 23 of whom are elected officials (mayors or councilmembers) from Washington cities, and two non-elected city officials who also serve as the president and past president of the Washington City/County Management Association.

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.

A complete list of AWC Board of Directors is available on the association’s  website.