Farewell to councilmen Dovey and Park

Jack Dovey and Mike Park were the men of the hour on Dec. 6, as the city hosted a reception for their years of service to the community.

December 9, 2011 5:34 pm
Jack Dovey and Mike Park are stepping down from the Federal Way City Council at the end of 2011. They are pictured at a farewell gathering Dec. 6 at City Hall.
Jack Dovey and Mike Park are stepping down from the Federal Way City Council at the end of 2011. They are pictured at a farewell gathering Dec. 6 at City Hall.

From staff reports:

Jack Dovey and Mike Park were the men of the hour on Dec. 6, as the city hosted a reception for their years of service to the community.

Among those gathered to honor the outgoing city councilmen were Bob Stead, King County judge; former councilman and mayor Ron Gintz; former councilwoman and mayor Mary Gates; former councilwoman and mayor Hope Elder; Sen. Tracey Eide; King County Councilman Pete von Reichbauer.

In 1995, Michael Park, a long-time small business owner, was appointed to fill a council vacancy and went on to win re-election four times. He served as mayor in 2000, under the former City Council/City Manager form of government, becoming Washington’s first Korean-American mayor. He also served as mayor from 2006 through 2007. Park opted not to run for re-election in 2011. His seat will be filled by Susan Honda.

Jack Dovey first joined the council in 1995 as an appointee to fill a council vacancy. He decided not to run again at the end of his term in 1999, but returned to the Council in 2003 and has served there since. Like Councilmember Park, Dovey is a local small business owner, and served as appointed mayor, holding that position in 2008 and 2009. Dovey lost his 2011 re-election bid to Bob Celski.