The Association of Washington Cities (AWC) nominates and appoints elected officials and senior staff to represent the interests of cities and towns on about 40 state boards and commissions. Serving on a board or commission is a great opportunity to get involved at the state level and help shape policies and programs that affect cities and towns.
AWC recruits for these positions throughout the year as vacancies or reappointments occur. Many positions have specific requirements for the official’s city or town – like geographic location or city size. Other positions may require a city official have certain experience or serve on a similar local board or committee. Within the specific criteria of each position, AWC welcomes applications from officials who reflect our state’s diverse cities and towns, elected officials, and senior staff.
The AWC Board of Directors took action on the following nominations at its September 18, 2025 meeting.
Board of Health: One position on the Board of Health is designated for a city elected official who serves on a local health board. The AWC Board of Directors nominated the following candidates to the Governor’s Office for consideration of appointment, of whom one will be appointed.
- Lupita Carrillo, Councilmember, Tieton
- Ashley Mathews, Mayor, Bainbridge Island
- Councilmember Nathaniel (Skate) Pierce, Clarkston
- Dave Olson, Mayor, Edgewood
- Ronnie Wright, Mayor, Oak Harbor
Public Works Board: The AWC Board of Directors nominated the following candidates to the Governor’s Office for consideration of appointment, of whom one will be appointed.
- Paul Bucich, Public Works Director, Sequim
- William Bullock, Public Works Director, Sedro-Woolley
- Vincent McGowan, Water Resource Manager, Lacey
- Denis Ryan, Public Works Director, Port Orchard
- Gary Schimek, Public Works Director, Mountlake Terrace
Get involved! Process for applying to serve on boards and commissions
If you are interested in applying to serve on a state board or commission, AWC typically opens a call for applications two to three times a year. Watch for announcements on this website and through our weekly CityVoice newsletter.