Following up on my comment in my last post about how Federal Way’s logo focuses exclusively on the fact that you can see Mount Rainier from the city. The problem I have with focusing on this aspect of Federal Way is that, along with evergreen trees and the Puget Sound, it is one of the least special things about the city.

I asserted that practically every other South Sound town uses Rainier in their city logos or seals. I thought I’d better back that statement up with a little quick research. Here’s what I found, confirming my assertion.

Granted, a few of these cities (Rainier, for example) that are actually really close to the mountain have a legitimate excuse for emphasizing the mountain nearby. But the towns whose only relation to the mountain is that you can see it from there? Not so much. It’s a big mountain. Being able to see it is nothing special.

This information is a little harder to get than one might expect. The city’s website doesn’t showcase former mayors or even councilpeople. I suppose that should not come as a surprise in the city that the Mirror once complained had no clear leaders.

Here is the list of past mayors and deputy mayors of Federal Way.

• 1989: Debbie Ertel and Mary Gates
• 1992: Bob Stead and Joel Marks
• 1994: Mary Gates and Phil Watkins
• 1996: Skip Priest and Hope Elder
• 1998: Ron Gintz and Michael Park
• 2000: Michael Park and Linda Kochmar
• 2002: Jeanne Burbidge and Dean McColgan
• 2004: Dean McColgan and Linda Kochmar
• 2006: Michael Park and Jim Ferrell
• 2008: Jack Dovey and Eric Faison

Fun Fact: All but three elections for either mayor or deputy mayor were unanimous: Mayor and deputy mayor in 1989, and mayor in 2002. All but two were uncontested (2002 mayor was uncontested but not unanimous).

While we’re at it, here’s a rough rundown of who has been city manager and deputy/assistant city manager (when there has been one):

• 1989: Al Locke
• 1990: J. Brent McFall
• 1994: Kenneth Nyberg
• 1996: (Deputy) Philip Keightley
• 2000: David Moseley
• 2005: (Deputy) Derek Matheson
• 2007: Neal Beets

Fun Fact: The longest-serving member of the city council in history was Mary Gates (1989-2003 inclusive). The current longest-serving member is Michael Park, counting time spent in office. The current member with the earliest appearance on the council is Jack Dovey, who joined the council in 1995 but did not serve from 2000-2002 inclusive.

Another Fun Dovey Fact: Of the three times the Council has had to make a mid-term appointment to replace a councilmember, twice they selected Jack Dovey, in 1995 and 2003. The other time was Eric Faison in 2001.

Fun Elected Mayor Fact: Outgoing councilmember and Deputy Mayor Joel Marks introduced a council proposal to make the mayor a publicly elected position in December 1993.

A Random Fun Fact Of Which The Significance Is Really Unclear To Me: Federal Way’s City Fathers (do we have Mothers too?) include a man named Ross Hennings.

And A Final Random Fun Fact: The Council was advised against commissioning a city logo in 1990 because of “the possible name change of the city”. Sometimes I wonder, “what if….” (Actually, it’s usually more like “if only….”)

All info compiled from a rather-non-exhaustive online search of city council minutes.

Early returns show the strong mayor proposal is coming out behind the status quo — but by a much closer margin than some predictions would have led you to expect.

Glenn C. Proctor turned himself into FWPD today, according to the TNT and the P-I.

The FWPD have named an actual suspect in the Transit Center shooting case.

If you see Glenn C. Proctor, call 911.

Unfortunately no official release at the FWPD website yet, but KOMO and the P-I have it.

I didn’t see any of the usual Vote Yes To Elect Our Mayor signs on the way to work today. But I did see some new additions: Vote No To Keep Our Council/Manager signs. Nice work, guys. Is this why Federal Way Works — because the entrenched status quo tilts the field against change?

In other news, the Council backpedaled on its anti-homeless proposal to make it illegal for poor people to try and get money. The only councilmember that didn’t vote to postpone the vote while softer options are considered was unelected-Mayor Dovey, who is all for getting the ugly homeless scum off our streets so obscure-niche small businesses like his can exist in a nice-looking city, ASAP. (Dovey backed the unpopular Celebration Park. Maybe his next public works project will be a nice run-down poorhouse in North Lake.)