After eight years as the Mayor of Bothell, Mark Lamb decided to step aside and nominate Deputy Mayor Joshua Freed to take his place, during a city council meeting Jan.7.
“For the last eight years I was blessed to have the opportunity to serve as your mayor,” said Lamb, at the meeting. “There is a time for everything and tonight a new mayor will be elected. The person I will be nominating is an experienced and positive leader who has been our partner in all of our accomplishments of the past eight years. Bothell would not be where we are today without the contributions of Joshua Freed.”
Freed was elected by a margin of 5-2. Councilwoman Tris Samberg nominated Councilman Andy Rheaume for mayor and the two were the only desenting votes in the process.
“Joshua is a visionary who is passionate about Bothell’s future,” said Lamb. “Many in town know him as a successful businessman who was born and raised right here in Bothell. I know that he is a caring and compassionate human being who regularly travels to some of the poorest parts of the world to bring love and hope to the disabled, the forgotten and the weak. His service in elected office is just that, a service to others. Josh has been an outstanding deputy mayor and he will be an even better mayor.”
Along with Freed, the Bothell City Council unanimously elected Del Spivey as deputy mayor. Freed welcomed back Samberg who was sworn in. Samberg previously held the position 2 seat but vacated it in 2011 to run against Lamb and lost. She returned to politics last spring to run against Planning Commission member Steve Booth for position 5 in November. Former Councilman Patrick Ewing decided not to run for reelection to the position 5 seat last spring.
Agnew, Spivey and Freed were all re-elected in November but ran unopposed. Agnew was unable to attend the meeting but joined by phone to participate in the voting process.
“I am honored to be elected as the new Mayor for the city of Bothell,” Freed said. “Years of creative planning have gone into our downtown plan and I look forward to leading council through the implementation of this plan to create a new vibrant downtown.”
Freed’s local government experience includes, but is not limited to, city of Bothell deputy mayor from 2010 thru 2013 and Bothell City Council member since 2006. He serves on the economic development, capital facilities and community outreach committees of the Bothell City Council, as well as the Eastside Transportation Partnership.
“I appreciate the opportunity to be the mayor for the next two years and I look forward to helping the future of Bothell,” Freed said. “A lot of good planning has gone into it and we will be working on implementation over the next few years. It is an honor.”
Spivey’s local government experience includes, but is not limited to, city of Bothell Council Member since 2006, He currently serves on he Economic Development and Public Safety Council Committees, as well as the Joint City and Fire District Advisory Board and the Northshore Parks & Recreation Service Area Board.
“Del is someone who has dedicated his life to public service in the form of the fire service,” Freed said. “He is someone who has been an integral part of our efforts here in the city of Bothell over the last eight years. Del is a good leader. Del is someone who is connected to our community.”
A mayor and deputy mayor are elected by council members every two years. Under the city’s council-manager form of government, the mayor serves as the presiding officer and acts as chair at all meetings of the city council.The mayor may participate in all deliberations of the council in the same manner as any other member and is expected to vote in all proceedings.
The mayor also serves as the city council’s ceremonial representative at public events and functions that are assigned to the mayor.
In the mayor’s absence, the deputy mayor assumes this responsibility. Should both the mayor and deputy mayor be absent, the mayor will appoint another council member to assume this responsibility.
“I hope I serve you and the community well and represent you well,” Freed said. “I look forward to moving forward with our revitalization and moving the city forward to some great things.”
All Bothell City Council positions are four-year terms. Council member positions are non-partisan, part-time and stipend positions. Members receive a salary of $900 per month and any council member elected to serve as mayor receives a salary of $1,100 per month.
The city council members, mayor and deputy mayor’s terms expire on Dec. 31, 2017.
For more City of Bothell information, visit www.ci.bothell.wa.us, call (425) 486-3256 or tune into BCTV Cable Channel 21 (within Bothell City Limits).
