Federal Way honors Women in Public Office Day

“There is nothing as powerful as a woman who steps up to lead,” Chamber CEO Rebecca Martin says.

By Olivia Sullivan • March 2, 2022 12:15 pm

March is Women’s History Month, honoring women’s contributions to society and culture in American history. The City of Federal Way recognized women in leadership roles at the March 1 City Council meeting.

Federal Way’s Proclamation is celebrates Women in Public Office Day Saturday, March 19.

“[W]omen play a critical role in the vitality and diversity of our communities, and are essential to ensuring Federal Way is well-represented,” Council President Linda Kochmar read from the proclamation.

Women remain underrepresented in male-dominated fields, making it imperative to provide opportunities to support women in public office, the proclamation states. By recognizing women in public office, this action raises awareness of the fundamental need for women’s work and inspire other young women to serve in their communities, according to the city.

“We recognize the many ways in which women have provided healing and hope to humanity for countless generations,” said Deputy Mayor Susan Honda, reading from the proclamation.

Federal Way and the 30th Legislative District have been fortunate in the number of elected women in official roles, Honda said.

Three women — Dr. Jennifer Jones, Luckisha Phillips and Trudy Davis — serve on the Federal Way Public Schools Board, and the FWPS district is led by Superintendent Dr. Dani Pfeiffer. Four women serve on the Federal Way City Council including Deputy Mayor Honda, Council President Kochmar, Councilmember Lydia Assefa-Dawson and Councilmember Erica Norton.

At the state level, Federal Way is represented by Senator Claire Wilson and State Rep. Jamila Taylor.

In January, South King Fire and Rescue welcomed Caroline Vadino, the first woman elected to the department’s board of fire commissioners. For the Lakehaven Water and Sewer District, Laura Belvin was elected in Nov. 2021 and is the second woman to serve on the board.

“Women think differently than men and we need women’s perspectives and their different leadership styles to help round out government,” said Belvin.

The Greater Federal Way Chamber of Commerce is led by President and CEO Rebecca Martin

Over 13 million businesses in the United States are run by women, said Martin at the council meeting. During the challenges of the pandemic, women accounted for 16% of the entrepreneurial businesses started in 2020.

“There is nothing as powerful as a woman who steps up to lead and you can have all different ways of doing that,” she said.

Half of Federal Way’s population is made up of women, according to the United States Census Bureau.

International Women’s Day is March 8.