Redmond Mayor will not seek re-election this year

Council President Angela Birney and businessman Andrew Koeppen have their hat in the ring. John Marchione Redmond, WA – Yesterday, Mayor John Marchione announced to city staff that he will not seek re-election later this year. The three-term mayor started in 2008 and was immediately challenged by a major recession and an affordable housing crisis. During this period of economic instability, Marchione created balanced budgets and earned the City a financial rating of AAA from Standard and Poor’s.  “This is a good time for me, professionally and personally, to pass the baton to the next elected official who will run the City,” said Mayor Marchione. “The City’s successes abound - new and improved parks, roads, trails, housing, and community events. In 2023, Sound Transit light rail service will connect our residents and employees to the region. Now it is time for the City to engage the comm Marchione’s accomplishments include: building Fire Station No. 17; extending Bear Creek Parkway, 161st Avenue, and 164th Avenue; transforming Downtown into a vibrant, walkable neighborhood; and moving Bear Creek further away from SR 520 to enhance fish habitat and control stormwater flows. Regionally, Mayor Marchione served in many leadership roles. He served as Chair of the Cascade Water Alliance (2012-2015) and president of the Puget Sound Regional Council (2015-2017).  He participated actively in the Sound Cities Association, taking a turn as President of the Board (2014). He has been a Sound Transit board member since 2008, served as Vice Chair (2017-2018), and will be Chair in 2019. Additionally, he served as a member of the Medic One/EMS Levy Reauthorization Advisory Task Force. Statewide, he convened technology cities throughout Washington to form the Washington Tech Cities Coalition (WTC2). Nationally, Mayor Marchione served on the U.S. Conference of Mayors Infrastructure Financing for Cities Task Force. “At the end of my term in December, I will have served 12 years as Mayor. I love the job. No two days play out the same. I enjoy meeting a variety of people and working on challenging issues,” said Marchione. “I am looking forward to new opportunities and challenges in my career. I am eager to explore where my career will go next.” Marchione is committed to keeping Redmond and the region moving forward in 2019. The City will work on enhancing environmental sustainability, upgrading and maintaining the physical and IT assets, and preparing for the arrival of light rail to Overlake in 2023 and Downtown Redmond in 2024. For questions and more information contact Lisa Maher, Communications & Marketing Manager, at lmaher@redmond.gov or 425-556-2427. This press release is available on www.redmond.gov.