On April 27, State Rep. Skip Priest (R-District 30) confirmed his candidacy for Federal Way’s first elected mayor.

Priest served on the Federal Way City Council from 1991 to 1997, including two years as an appointed mayor under the city’s current council-manager form of government. Priest was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2002. He will forgo re-election to the Legislature in order to run for mayor of Federal Way.

Last fall, voters approved an initiative to change Federal Way’s government, replacing the city manager and appointed mayor with a strong elected mayor who earns $112,800 a year.

Federal Way City Council members Jim Ferrell, Michael Park and Mayor Linda Kochmar have also announced their candidacies for elected mayor. The filing deadline for candidates is June 7-11. A primary election will be held Aug. 17. The general election will take place Nov. 2.

“We’re at a very critical time as far as Federal Way is concerned,” Priest said. “It just seemed like a perfect time to offer my services.”

FYI

Federal Way School Board member Ed Barney said he will make an official announcement regarding his candidacy for Priest’s legislative seat on Saturday, May 1, during fellow school board member Tony Moore’s campaign kickoff for the state Senate. The event runs 1 to 3 p.m. at The Commons mall.

Federal Way City Council member Jack Dovey plans to announce his candidacy for the position in the coming weeks, he said.