The race to become Federal Way’s first full-time separately elected mayor is at its genesis.
Because the city council appears to be leaning toward an August-November election schedule, the race may not be decided for a year. But there’s another race unfolding behind the scenes. That’s the race to determine who will be Federal Way’s last mayor in the current council-manager form of government.
Both races are intertwined with some of the same names, and each candidate is looking for political advantage — or trying to ensure another candidate doesn’t gain a political advantage.
First, the players. Council member Jim Ferrell already announced his candidacy for the new position of strong mayor under the mayor-council form. Other council members who are thought to be weighing their options for the race are Mike Park, Jeanne Burbidge, Linda Kochmar and current mayor Jack Dovey.
Dini Duclos is apparently not interested at this time. Eric Faison will retire from the council and will be replaced by Roger Freeman, who is unlikely to mount another campaign for anything so soon. As an aside, watch him in the future. Of the five council members potentially interested in running for mayor under the new mayor-council form of government, Park, Dovey and Burbidge have served as mayor under the “old” or current council-manager form — while Kochmar and Ferrell have each served as deputy mayor.
The biggest asset in winning the race for mayor under the new form may be money. But near the top would be already holding the title while you are running.
Who is appointed mayor and deputy mayor in January will give those two office holders a potential political advantage if they are campaigning for the strong mayor position at the same time. While the positions are largely ceremonial, the holders would be able to use the titles in mailings and would preside at public events. It would give them a possible front-runner status in the public’s mind. So, all five would like one of the two titles. Conversely, they don’t want other serious candidates to have either of the titles.
At one point earlier in the year, it appeared Linda Kochmar might have enough votes from her colleagues to gain the position. But when Proposition 1 passed creating the new strong mayor position, all previous agreements went out the window.
Ferrell, as the only announced candidate, is probably the one the council is least likely to favor with an appointment as mayor or deputy mayor. Ferrell has his own vote, and new council member Roger Freeman is perceived to be a Ferrell supporter, although it’s a little early to tell for sure. There is the possibility that Park, Dovey, Kochmar or Burbidge could get the necessary four votes to become mayor by agreeing not to run for the strong mayor position. For that scenario, Dini Duclos could emerge as deputy mayor. Duclos could also become mayor as a compromise if none of the others come to an agreement.
Who will become Federal Way’s last appointed mayor in the current council-manager form of government will become a lot clearer when all the potential candidates decide who won’t be a candidate for Federal Way’s first elected mayor.
The most likely candidates to join Ferrell in the “real” race for mayor are probably Park and Dovey, so watch and see what Kochmar and Burbidge do. My guess is Kochmar decides not to run for the strong mayor position, and is appointed as mayor in the current form of government by the rest of the council, then Duclos is appointed deputy mayor. But it is still a moving target.
Also, if you’re keeping score, watch acting city manager Brian Wilson. With all of the political maneuvering going on around him for another year, he may decide that this is more than he bargained for. Fighting crime as police chief may seem far easier.
Watch all the movements — they have meaning.
