Spring 2024

From the President

Congratulations! We all made it through to the other side of the 2023 municipal election cycle. Whether you’re city staff, a seasoned elected official, or new to elected office—I’m glad you’re here with us.

For those of you who are new to office, I know the campaign trail can be grueling. During my own campaign experience, stiff competition and unprecedented fundraising left me questioning what was going to happen on election day more than once. But I stayed true to my constituents and told them exactly what my vision was for our community, and they in turn entrusted me with this incredible honor—one that comes with immense responsibility.

Now that you’re sworn in, you’re faced with a new reality that can be starkly different from running for office. And what’s more—your constituents are now looking to you to fulfill those campaign promises. If you’re like me, you might be thinking what I thought to myself the first time I took to the dais: “Are you sure you trust me to do this?!”

When I joined my city’s council in 2020, the newly elected class of city officials shared similar sentiments about their first few weeks in office at AWC’s newly elected officials’ breakfast. They said things like, “Am I qualified for this role?” and “The amount of information is overwhelming!” and “It’s challenging to communicate with constituents.”

Imposter syndrome can leave even the most experienced of us feeling like all the hard work we put in isn’t enough to be truly prepared or even qualified for this new role. But I promise, you can do this! This issue of Cityvision is filled with stories that share seasoned local leaders’ advice on how their fellow elected officials can triumph in the daunting challenge of leading their communities.

AWC is here to help you. We have many resources for newly elected officials, such as the ever-popular Mayor and Councilmember Handbook and “You have it—use it,” our publication on home rule in Washington. I hope you’ll also consider attending one of AWC’s many wonderful events to build connections, leverage one another’s wisdom, and find new partnerships.

It has been an honor serving as your president since June. Reach out to me if you ever have any questions or ideas. I’m always happy to brainstorm with you.

Sincerely,

Betsy Wilkerson
Council President, Spokane
President, AWC

Collaborative effort: Working together, five North King County cities build a solution to behavioral health crises overwhelming first responders

In 2023, the cities of Bothell, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline partnered to launch the Regional Crisis Response (RCR) Agency, a strike team of 13 mental health professionals pooled from across the five cities. More

When hate comes to town: Addressing racist and antisemitic public comments at meetings

Shared with permission from MRSC, this article explores a recent disturbing trend in which the public comment period of city council meetings has been used to make antisemitic and racist statements. More

A tale of two small cities: AWC’s new board members model the shared experiences and leadership skills that make rural communities strong

Small cities differ from their larger urban counterparts in a lot more than just size. Rural enclaves like Raymond and White Salmon (57% of Washington’s 281 cities have populations of 5,000 or less) represent “the historical and cultural bedrock of American life.” Mayors Dee Roberts and Marla Keethler—both elected to be “At Large” small city representatives on AWC’s Board of Directors—reflect on the challenges and opportunities of small city governance. More

Legal Q&A with MRSC and AWC: Key takeaways from the 2023 Elected Officials Essentials Workshop

This important event is often a first introduction to elected office for many of our cities’ newly elected officials, and a great refresher for many more. The liveliest parts of the day were the legal scenario discussions and question-and-answer sessions, hosted by multiple attorneys. More

How to run a council meeting: Best practices from experts at Jurassic Parliament

As anyone who has attempted to facilitate a council meeting with any complexity knows—it’s anything but simple. In this synopsis, Ann Macfarlane of Jurassic Parliament shares some tips on how to transform your city council meetings. More

Connecting beyond campaign mode: A newly elected Mukilteo councilmember embraces the art of doorbelling—and promoting diversity through continual community outreach—as hallmarks of good leadership

Jason Moon became the first Korean American to serve on Mukilteo’s council in 2022. In 2023, Moon ran unopposed but campaigned as if running opposed, calling on local businesses and homes to help build discourse, listen, and connect with the people of Mukilteo. More

Agricultural roots: Darrington Mayor Dan Rankin looks to innovation—and cultivating a sense of place—to create opportunities for locals to invest and engage in their evolving rural community

Dan Rankin reflects on his storied career as a small city mayor, including his work leading the Darrington community through a deadly landslide and a shifting resource economy. More

Win cycle: The City of Pullman’s new mayor reflects on how losing an election made him better at governing

Francis Benjamin’s key takeaway after narrowly winning one of the most competitive City of Pullman mayoral races in decades? Every elected official should lose an election. More

Top ten takeaways from AWC’s 2023 Elected Officials Essentials Workshop: Understanding the legal roles and responsibilities of working at city hall

AWC’s 2023 Elected Officials Essentials Workshop was a dynamic event where city elected officials gathered to learn the legal roles and responsibilities of their work at city hall. Here are ten key takeaways from this energetic and educational event. More

Acronyms in local government: The real MVPs of brevity and clarity

You may have heard the joke that if you’re having a conversation that feels like it is made up of more letters than actual words, you probably work in local government. Here are some simple tips on how you can better use acronyms in your role as a city leader—and an acronym reference tool from your friends at AWC. More

Razor’s edge: A freshman city council member takes office with the slimmest of electoral margins

When he decided to run for city council two years after moving to Rainier, Ryan Roth didn’t think winning his seat would be national news. More