FW City Council appoints Maloney and Noble-Gulliford

Following a day of interviews and deliberations, Kelly Maloney and Diana Noble-Gulliford became the newest members of the Federal Way City Council.

A final list of 20 applicants competed for the seats vacated by Linda Kochmar and Roger Freeman, who were elected to the state House of Representatives last November. Maloney and Noble-Gulliford both took the oath of office Saturday at City Hall.

Maloney has had a career in marketing and business. She has worked on economic development projects with the city, including a recent TV commercial and branding message for the “Think Federal Way” campaign. In addition to initiatives aimed at improving the local business environment, Maloney has also owned and operated two small businesses in the communications field. She is currently the director of marketing for Orion Industries, an aerospace product manufacturer in Federal Way.

Noble-Gulliford has community roots that extend back before Federal Way’s cityhood. She is president of the Historical Society of Federal Way, an active cultural force in the community that has led efforts to honor veterans and preserve local history. Examples of the latter include publication of a Federal Way history book and securing grants for remodeling historic landmarks like the cabins at West Hylebos Park. Noble-Gulliford also has experience serving on city boards such as the planning commission.

(Pictured: Diana Noble-Gulliford is shown just after taking the oath of office and becoming Federal Way’s newest city council member Jan. 19 at City Hall.)

How the process worked

Applicants submitted written statements and went before the council for five-minute interviews. Following an executive session, the council members nominated their picks and voted in public.

Discussion centered on the best candidates to lead Federal Way’s vision for economic development, both downtown and citywide. The 20 applicants prepared a written response to five questions from the city:

1. Please identify the experience, knowledge and skills you believe that you possess which you could use in working as a city council member, and specifically how they uniquely qualify you for this position.

2. What is your understanding of the role of a council member?

3. What ideas and suggestions do you have to enhance economic development in our downtown and around the city?

4. What would be your priorities or specific direction for the future of the city — how would you rank such priorities, and how would you proceed with developing and/or implementing them?

5. If appointed to the council, what changes would you like to see? How would you go about making any change?

Maloney was the first applicant appointed to the city council. After she was sworn-in, Maloney joined the rest of the council for another executive session to select the second new council member.

That second round of voting came down to Noble-Gulliford and local businessman Tom Medhurst, leading to two tied votes of 3-3 among the council (the mayor does not get a tiebreaker). During these deliberations, Deputy Mayor Jim Ferrell advocated that discussions continue in public.

However, the council eventually agreed to enter another executive session to discuss the matter in private. The council emerged to select Noble-Gulliford after Maloney switched her vote.

List of applicants

The applicants for the two council positions, in order of appearance for their interviews:

1. Kelly Maloney

2. Herman Brewer IV

3. John Fairbanks

4. Eltrina Rose

5. Ed Barney

6. Robert Danielle

7. Mark Koppang

8. Robyn Richins

9. Mark Walsh

10. Ryan Miller