Laure Iddings, mayor of Maple Valley for the past 12 years, informed City Manager David Johnston today (Monday) she will resign her City Council seat effective Jan. 1.
According to Johnston, Iddings submitted a letter of resignation to him and City Clerk Irvalene Moni.
The city’s form of government is council-manager and the mayor and deputy mayor are elected by the Council from within its own ranks every two years at the first meeting in January following the general election.
Iddings has been the mayor of the city since its incorporation in August 1997. She had two years to serve on her City Council term.
The Council has 90 days to appoint a member to fill out the final two years of Iddings’ term. If the City Council fails to appoint a new member in 90 days, the County Council will select a member.
The mayor and deputy mayor will be elected at the Jan. 4 City Council meeting.
With the election of Erin Weaver and Bill Allison to the Council in November and reelection of Victoria Laise Jonas to a fourth term over Stanette Marie Rose, there was speculation Iddings would not be reelected to the mayor’s position.
Weaver beat incumbent David Pilgrim and Allison won over Jim Flynn, who served on the Council for 10 years before losing his seat to Layne Barnes two years ago.
Iddings is the last member to have served on the first City Council in Maple Valley following incorporation.
“I think she has served this city wonderfully for 12 years,” Councilman Noel Gerken said. “She did a great job leading the city and we are in good financial shape largely because of her.”
Councilwoman Linda Johnson said, “She has been an outstanding mayor and asset to this city and she will be sorely missed. The city has lost a lot.”
The first order of business at the Jan. 4 Council meeting will be to swear in Jonas, Weaver and Allison. Following the ceremony, the city clerk will take nominations for mayor and the members vote. Once elected the new mayor chairs the meeting and a deputy mayor is nominated and elected.
