The first Federal Way City Council meeting of 2026 saw a packed crowd, although it dwindled to only a handful by the end of the lengthy four and a half hours.
New council members Melissa Hamilton and Les Sessoms were sworn in as well as new Municipal Court Judge Danielle Havens and Mayor Jim Ferrell.
New council member Martin Moore was elected president of the Federal Way City Council on the third round of voting by the council after the first two rounds ended in a tie.
The tie began when council member Lydia Assefa-Dawson abstained from voting, leaving a split vote between Moore and former council president Linda Kochmar.
Assefa-Dawson abstained again in the second round of voting as council members shared their positions and speeches to campaign for the role. These included many affirmations of respect for all fellow council members as well as some vague and polite jabs at some candidates.
On the third round, Assefa-Dawson voted for Moore, joining Susan Honda, Sessoms and Moore himself to elect him to the position.
Council members Hamilton, Jack Walsh and Kochmar voted for Kochmar.
At the end of the evening, Assefa-Dawson shared that the reason she had abstained from voting at first was not due to any personal issue with voting for either candidate, but a desire to see the issue of the council president election get more time on the dais for discussion before moving forward.
She said her choice to abstain was not “a reflection of how I feel or your leadership,” instead, “it’s just that I really wanted us to slow down, talk about it and hear what the council, the candidates, had to say, what we had to say, and not only us, but wanted the public to also hear and understand.”
“Based on what I was hearing, what was going on, I was able to make my decision,” Assefa-Dawson added.
Council chambers at Federal Way’s City Hall were full of members of the public on Jan. 6 for the council meeting. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror
Public comments
After the tearful oaths of office, the contentious council president election, a presentation of a gift from retired Municipal Court Judge Dave Larson, and a brief recess, the council spent the rest of the meeting hearing from public commenters and discussing actions on public art selection (decision delayed until next meeting) and a surveillance drone contract for the police department (unanimously approved) as well as several other business items and ordinances.
Public commenters shared well-wishes, advice and hope around the new year and the new council members as well as expressing their position on the drone issue. Commenters also expressed the importance of transparency and trust with the council.
Public commenter Anna Patrick encouraged council members to be thoughtful about the appearance of partisanship, pointing out that Moore is the chair of the local 30th District Democrats, which is listed on the council website.
“The council president role carries significant authority especially in setting agendas, prioritizing items for discussion and shaping what issues receive public airtime. When that role is held by someone who is also the head of a partisan political organization…it raises a reasonable question for residents. How does the city ensure that the agenda setting remains neutral and inclusive of all viewpoints?” Patrick asked.
Public commenter Mike Bollich-Ziegler also spoke about trust, specifically trust that the council cares about its diverse community, especially the challenges that immigrants are facing, and thanked Moore specifically for speaking out in December.
“I haven’t personally heard much, if any, defense of our immigrant community from our city leadership during this past year of relentless attacks from our federal administration,” Bollich-Ziegler said. “The city may feel it is helpless in counteracting these attacks, but some of your recent actions and silence have actively eroded my trust that I have that the city truly understands and values immigrants in our community.”
The new council members ended the evening affirming their dedication to working together for the community.
Hamilton summed it up by saying, “we are all up here to work for you as the residents of Federal Way…I look forward to working with my colleagues and making sure that we’re making Federal Way the best city it can be and to live up to this promise here, being centered on opportunity.”
Melissa Hamilton is sworn in as a new member of the Federal Way City Council on Jan. 6. Photos by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror
Les Sessoms is sworn in as a new member of the Federal Way City Council on Jan. 6 by Judge LeRoy McCullough of King County Superior Court. Photos by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror
The Federal Way City Council holds its first meeting with the newly elected members on Jan. 6. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror
