New city council and school board members sworn in

Several new elected officials were sworn into their seats on the Federal Way City Council and the Federal Way Public Schools Board of Directors on Dec. 7.

Incumbent Trudy Davis was sworn into her role as director of District 4 for the school district. She was appointed to the position in Oct. 2018, and was elected to the seat in Nov. 2021. Her term expires in 2025. Davis has two boys who attend Federal Way High School. She has previously worked as a personnel management specialist for the United States Army, a pharmacy technician, an early childhood education teacher and a family support specialist, among other roles.

“I’m excited to still be continuing the work off the heels of Dr. [Tammy] Campbell with Superintendent Pfeiffer,” Davis said, adding that she welcomes the new leadership of Director Hiroshi Eto as the new school board president.

Newcomer Quentin Morris also took his oath for the school board at Tuesday night’s meeting. Morris, filling the District 1 director position, was elected in Nov. 2021 and his term expires in 2025. He graduated from the FWPS system before taking on a 41-year career with The Boeing Company. For the past 30 years, he and his wife have called Federal Way their home.

Morris said he is “extremely honored” to be seated on the Federal Way Public Schools Board of Directors.

“I come to this important post prepared to serve with humility and respect,” he said, adding that his guiding quote is that by Frederick Douglass: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

“I dedicate myself to working with the other directors, Superintendent [Dani] Pfeiffer and the FWPS staff toward ensuring our district policies facilitate the development of educated, responsible, collaborative, and empowered life-long learners,” he said.

On the Federal Way City Council, Erica Norton was sworn in at Position 2 by Mayor Jim Ferrell at the Tuesday night meeting. She has lived in Federal Way for 12 years and is a small business owner. She previously served on the Pierce County Corrections Committee, the Washington State Area 72 Corrections Committee, and a homeless coalition in Federal Way. Her council term expires in 2025.

Norton refused to speak to the Mirror about joining the Federal Way City Council.

New councilmember Jack Walsh, Position 5, took his oath of office on Dec. 7, sworn in by Judge Dave Larson. In 2020, Walsh ran for state representative of the 30th Legislative District and lost to Jesse Johnson. Walsh is a small business owner in the Federal Way community and has lived in Federal Way for 36 years. In the past decade, he has been an active volunteer in the community.

Walsh said a lack of other candidates in the running for council with “common sensibility” was the turning point that made him seek public office for the city. His term expires in 2025.

“I realized if it was going to be done, it had to be me,” Walsh told the Mirror at Tuesday night’s meeting.

“This is an office that I initially had no intention of going after, but I felt that the City of Federal Way needed my service and I felt it was the right thing to do to provide that service to the city,” Walsh said. “I think that we will be able to make a real difference in the city. I’m excited to work with the new city council.”

He also thanked the voters of Federal Way for making “good choices with this election.”

Former mayor and incoming councilmember Jack Dovey, Position 6, will be sworn in for his seat at the Jan. 4, 2022, Federal Way City Council meeting.