Federal Way City Councilwoman Kelly Maloney announced Wednesday she will resign from the Council effective Dec. 31, saying professional demands leave too little time to give full attention to increasingly complex city issues.
Maloney, the president and CEO of the Aerospace Futures Alliance of Washington, was appointed to a Council vacancy in January 2013 and was elected later in November. She started her current position in August 2015.
“Last year I began an exciting and demanding new job running a statewide aerospace association,” Maloney said in the letter, dated Oct. 19. “Overseeing the important work of the association while contributing at a significant level to City Council over the past 15 months has been one of the most challenging – and rewarding – times of my career.
“Even more recently, however, unexpected events in Federal Way have increased the number of special Council meetings, executive sessions, and the significant amount of time I already routinely dedicate to city issues outside of official meetings… This decision has been difficult to make, but at this juncture, it is necessary in order for the residents of Federal Way to have the representation they deserve.”
The full resignation letter can be viewed here.
Maloney’s term was due to end in November 2017, and her soon-to-be vacant seat will be filled by appointment. Per Federal Way City Council rules, the mayor’s staff will start the appointment process and establish the candidate interview and appointment schedule.
“The mayor will let the dust settle on this a bit,” said Steve McNey, the city’s community outreach coordinator and Mayor Jim Ferrell’s spokesman. “Then we’re going to go through and try to get the nomination done prior to the [Dec. 31] actual vacancy, provided we can do so within the bounds of the established rules and procedures.”
Council rules say a notice to submit an application will be made public for a period of two weeks, and any “registered voter of the City of Federal Way” who has at least one year of residency in the city can apply for consideration.
Maloney, who will remain a Federal Way resident, said in an interview that she hopes to stay involved in city issues after her resignation.
“I’ll probably get involved in one or two things, depending on what the issue is and how much time I have,” Maloney said. “The way I am, I’ll probably always be involved in something.”
Maloney campaigned in 2013 on, among other things, bringing a college satellite campus to Federal Way and re-branding the city for marketing purposes. Both initiatives are currently underway, with a college Needs Assessment due soon and the re-branding efforts getting traction in fits and starts. She also spearheaded the formation of the city’s Violence Prevention Coalition, which was approved by the Council in May.
Maloney counted those three initiatives as her greatest successes, although the first two were tempered by disappointment over not being able to see them through to completion – their completion or abandonment are now in the hands of the remaining council members.
“Both the university initiative and the re-branding initiative are teed up for success,” she said. “Next steps are important, and success for each will depend on the vision, strategy, tactics and implementation employed by those continuing the work.”
