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List of mayors of Tukwila, Washington facts for kids

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Mayor of Tukwila
Incumbent
Thomas McLeod

since January 1, 2024
Term length 4 years
Inaugural holder Joel Shomaker
Formation June 23, 1908
Website http://www.tukwilawa.gov/mayor/

A mayor is the main leader of a city or town. They help make important decisions for everyone living there. This article tells you about the people who have been mayors of Tukwila, Washington. Tukwila is a city in Washington state. It became an official city in 1908. Joel Shomaker was Tukwila's very first mayor. The current mayor is Thomas McLeod, who started his term on January 1, 2024.

The History of Tukwila's Mayors

Tukwila officially became a city on June 23, 1908. Joel Shomaker was the first mayor. He worked hard to make Tukwila an official city. He even helped create a newspaper contest to choose the city's name!

Joel Shomaker, circa 1916
Joel Shomaker, around 1916

Many mayors have left a lasting mark on Tukwila. For example, some streets are named after past mayors. Strander Boulevard, Minkler Boulevard, and Baker Boulevard are all named after mayors who served in the middle of the 1900s.

What Does a Mayor Do in Tukwila?

Tukwila is a "mayor-council government." This means the mayor and the city council work together to run the city. The mayor has several important jobs:

  • The mayor leads all city council meetings.
  • If the city council has a tied vote, the mayor can cast the deciding vote.
  • The mayor reports on the city's money situation.
  • The mayor helps create the city's budget. This plan shows how the city will spend its money.

The mayor can also say "no" to (veto) new city rules or laws (ordinances). However, the city council can overrule the mayor's veto. They need a special vote with more than 50% of the council members agreeing to do so.

List of Tukwila Mayors

Here is a list of all the people who have served as mayor of Tukwila:

# Name Term began Term ended
1 Joel Shomaker June 23, 1908 December 31, 1909
2 Ernest Engel January 1, 1910 December 31, 1911
3 Jacob Guntert January 1, 1912 January 14, 1913
4 John Hall January 14, 1913 December 31, 1914
5 Sylvanus Harlow Stevens January 1, 1915 December 31, 1918
6 Edward F. Greene January 1, 1919 December 31, 1924
7 George C. Bergquist January 1, 1925 December 31, 1927
8 John R. Walkup January 1, 1928 June 5, 1933
9 John P. Walkup June 5, 1933 June 2, 1947
10 Charles Baker June 2, 1947 April 2, 1962
11 John Strander
(1924–1998)
April 2, 1962 December 31, 1967
12 Stanley Minkler January 1, 1968 December 31, 1971
13 Frank Todd
(1923–2004)
January 1, 1972 December 31, 1975
14 Edgar Bauch
(1924–2004)
January 1, 1976 December 31, 1979
15 Frank Todd
(1923–2004)
December 1, 1980 July 15, 1982
16 Gary VanDusen
(1941–)
July 15, 1982 December 31, 1991
17 John W. Rants January 1, 1992 December 31, 1999
18 Steve Mullett
(1943–2017)
January 1, 2000 December 31, 2007
19 Jim Haggerton January 1, 2008 December 31, 2015
20 Allan Ekberg
(1959–)
January 1, 2016 December 31, 2023
21 Thomas McLeod January 1, 2024 Present
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