OLYMPIA — Mayor Matthew Lundh of Cle Elum has been elected to the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) board of directors. The election was conducted by city leaders from across the state at the AWC Annual Conference in Vancouver, Washington, held from June 18-21, 2024. Lundh, who was first appointed to the AWC board in February, will represent the 19 cities and towns in Kittitas and Yakima counties.

“I’m grateful for the support of my peers and the privilege to serve on the AWC board,” said Lundh. “I look forward to continuing to work with my fellow board members and city leaders from across the state to building safe, supportive, and enriching communities for the next generation.”

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.

“One of the best things about AWC is the connections that are made between the many exceptional leaders we have at the local level and the ability to share successes and best practices, and partner to improve all of our communities,” added Lundh.

“Mayor Lundh brings a strong, passionate voice for Cle Elum and cities and towns throughout Kittitas and Yakima counties to the AWC board,” AWC CEO Deanna Dawson. “His commitment to public service and collaborative leadership style are an asset to Cle Elum and to AWC as we work to build a strong future for all of Washington’s 281 diverse cities and towns.”

Lundh was elected Mayor of Cle Elum in the fall of 2023 after serving four years on the city council. Mayor Lundh’s prior and current leadership experience includes serving on the Kittitas County Conference of Governments, the Kittitas County Homelessness and Affordable Housing Committee, the Kittitas County Consolidated Lodging Tax Committee, and the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee.

His community involvement includes serving as a Rotary Club of Upper Kittitas County Board Member, Cub Scout Pack 903 Cubmaster, Cle Elum-Roslyn Elementary School volunteer, and a Swauk-Teanaway Grange member.

He holds AWC’s Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership and has served on the association’s Small City Advisory Committee and Nominating Committee.

More than 450 attendees representing over 130 cities and towns across Washington attended the AWC Annual Conference to learn about issues critical to the success of cities. The theme of this year’s conference was Livable, loveable cities, and keynote speaker Peter Kageyama shared his ideas on harnessing the passion people feel for the places they live to help build thriving communities. A highlight of the conference was a panel of distinguished leaders speaking to civic health and how cities are leading the way through divisive times. Sessions on infrastructure, emergency management, budgeting, legal requirements, the fentanyl crisis, and a wide array of other important topics rounded out the conference agenda.

Founded in 1933, Association of Washington Cities (AWC) is a nonprofit corporation that represents Washington’s 281 cities and towns. AWC’s mission is to build connections between Washington state’s diverse cities and towns, while providing their members with the support needed to thrive through delivery of data-driven education, nationally recognized pooling programs, and nonpartisan advocacy. Membership is voluntary; however, AWC consistently maintains 100 percent participation from Washington’s 281 cities and towns.

A complete list of AWC board of directors is available on the association’s website.