OLYMPIA, Wash. — Mayor Brett Gailey of Lake Stevens 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. Gailey will represent the 19 cities and towns in Snohomish County.

“I’m deeply honored by the opportunity to contribute to the continued success of AWC and I’m grateful for the support of my peers as we strive to build a brighter future for all of Washington,” said Gailey.

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 Gailey is a strong leader with a passion for tackling issues affecting Washington’s cities,” said AWC CEO Deanna Dawson. “He is well respected by his peers in Snohomish County, and his experience and perspective will be a valuable addition to the AWC Board.”

Gailey is a long-time resident of Lake Stevens, retired law enforcement officer of 21 years, and a member of the US Army Reserves. He was elected to the Lake Stevens City Council in 2017 before being elected Mayor in 2019 and reelected in 2023. Gailey’s community and regional leadership experience includes serving on the Snohomish County Tomorrow Executive Committee, Lake Stevens Art and Parks Foundation, the Lake Stevens Rotary Club, and past Lake Stevens Food Bank Board member. He has served on the AWC Ad Hoc Bylaws Review Committee and the Education and Training Advisory 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.