On Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, Kent Mayor Dana Ralph released this Welcome message:

Happy New Year, Kent! It is hard to believe that 2018 is already here, but I am excited about the year ahead and all that it holds for the Kent community. After six years as a Kent City Councilmember, serving as your Mayor will be a new role for me, but a challenge I am honored to take on. I will work closely with City Council, staff, residents and businesses to move Kent forward and to continue our transformation into a City that we are all proud to call home.

As we work toward a shared future, I will:

  • Strive to make sure all residents’ voices are heard
  • Build on Mayor Suzette Cooke’s legacy of accessibility and transparency
  • Meet with individuals, community groups and businesses to listen to and better understand your hopes, dreams, challenges and concerns
  • Encourage all residents to be engaged
  • Embrace our differences and build on our strengths

I am excited about Kent’s future and hope you’ll join me in shaping our City.

Let’s get started!

~ Mayor Dana Ralph

BIO:

Elected in 2017, Kent Mayor Dana 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 student at 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.

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