Mayor Nancy Backus of Auburn was elected to the board of Association of Washington Cities (AWC) at the association’s annual conference, which was held in Spokane on June 20-23, 2023. Mayor Backus was elected to represent District 13, which is comprised of the 16 cities in south King County.
“I am honored to be able to serve south King County cities as an AWC board member,” said Backus. “AWC is such a valuable asset to ensure cities like ours have a voice and strong advocacy for our unique needs. It will be challenging work, and I will do my best for my south King County neighbors.”
The AWC board of directors is the association’s governing body. The board is comprised of 25 directors, 23 of whom are mayors or city councilmembers from Washington cities or towns, and two non-elected city officials who also serve as the president and past president of the Washington City/County Management Association.
Mayor Backus has been an active and engaged member of AWC, serving on its Large Cities Advisory Committee, Legislative Priorities Committee, and on the AWC Center for Quality Communities (CQC) Scholarship Committee. Mayor Backus has earned her Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership from AWC.
Mayor Backus is also regionally involved, serving on the board of Sound Transit, the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, the King County Regional Policy Committee, the Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board, and as a member of South Sound Affordable Housing Partners and chair of South King Housing and Homeless Partners. She previously served as president of the Sound Cities Association board.
“Mayor Backus is a dynamic and influential leader, and we are thrilled to have her join the board of AWC,” said AWC CEO Deanna Dawson. “From housing and homelessness, to transportation, to public safety, Mayor Backus brings a wealth of subject matter expertise to the table. She is also a bridge-builder and knows that we are stronger when we work together. I look forward to partnering with Mayor Backus to achieve great things for our 281 member cities and towns.”
Nancy Backus was elected to her first term as mayor in 2014 and is the first woman to hold the office in Auburn since it was incorporated in 1891. Prior to taking office, she served ten years as an Auburn city councilmember and spent 25 years as a financial manager for the Boeing Company. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is a proud wife and mother to a high-achieving, soccer-playing daughter who graduated from The Evergreen State College.
A strong believer in service to community and bettering the lives of women and girls, Backus earned the Soroptimist International of Auburn Women Helping Women Award in 2002, the Miss Auburn Scholarship Program's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013, the Leadership Institute of South Puget Sound Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012, the Boeing Career Foundation Program Manager of the Year Award in 2011, the Dale Carnegie Human Principles in Action Award in 2007, and the Business and Professional Women's Woman of Achievement Award in 2014. She is also the recipient of the American Medical Association Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service.
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% 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.