Kent Mayor Dana Ralph has been elected the 2019 Vice President of the Sound Cities Association (SCA), it was announced on Monday, Feb. 4.
The SCA represents 38 King County cities, and provides a regional voice for more than one million people.
“Mayor Ralph is an extraordinary regional partner, a dedicated advocate for her city, and a wonderful friend,” said King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove. “I’m so happy to see her elected to this leadership role with Sound Cities Association.”
“SCA is recognized as the regional leader in addressing the challenges and opportunities that face communities of all sizes throughout King County,” said Deanna Dawson, SCA Executive Director. “With Mayor Ralph’s leadership, SCA will continue to be an important catalyst by creating solutions through innovative local and regional partnerships. The results will help her better serve the residents of Kent.”
Elected in 2017, Ralph brings over a decade of public service to her current role. Mayor Ralph served on the Kent City Council from 2012 through 2017, including two years as Council President. During her tenure on the City Council she served as Chair of the Operations Committee. Additionally, she served on the Public Works Committee, Parks and Human Services and Public Safety Committee as well as Firemen’s Relief and Pension Board, Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System 1 Board and was the Council liaison to the Arts Commission.
Mayor Ralph represented Kent’s regional interests on the Board of Directors for the Sound Cities Association, the SCA Regional Law, Safety and Justice Committee, the PSRC Transportation Policy Board, Chaired the South County Area Transportation Board, Chaired the Drug Free Communities Coalition, Vice President of the Kent Kiwanis Club, alternate on the Flood Control District Advisory Committee, member of the Kent Auburn Tamba Sister Cities Association and served on the board of the Water Resource Inventory Area 9.
Prior to her elected service, Mayor Ralph served as Chair of the Kent Land Use and Planning Board where she helped shape the course for Kent’s land use, economic development and natural resources. As an advocate for the arts, Mayor Ralph previously served as Chair of the Kent Arts Commission where she advocated for local performing, visual and literary arts.
Mayor Ralph is a lifelong Kent resident and met her husband Shawn while attending Kent-Meridian High School. Together, they have called Kent home for decades, opened a small business here and regularly volunteer in the community. They are the proud parents of two sons, Kyle and Derek. Kyle is majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Montana State University and Derek is a recent graduate of Kentridge High School.
Mayor Ralph and her family live on Kent’s East Hill. Mayor Ralph is a proud Kent Meridian Royal and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a master’s degree in Management and Leadership. When she isn’t hard at work, the Mayor enjoys spending time with her family, martial arts, camping, trying new restaurants and exploring new businesses in Kent.
SCA, which was formerly known as the Suburban Cities Association, was established 50 years ago to help King County cities of all sizes act locally and partner regionally to create vital and thriving communities through advocacy, education, leadership, mutual support and networking.
For more information, please visit www.SoundCities.org.
