Most parents have a great feeling of pride when asked about their child’s success. But when a child’s success follows in their own footsteps, that pride can be palpable.

When Kirkland Deputy Mayor Doreen Marchione talks about her son, Redmond Mayor John Marchione, the pride is nearly as big as her love for him.

“When he was running for mayor I remember some people coming up to me and saying ‘don’t take this the wrong way, but John is the most qualified person we have ever had to be mayor,’” said Doreen on Monday afternoon, as she sat next to her son in his office at Redmond City Hall.

But Doreen did not take offense because she agrees.

“I think he is doing great,” said Doreen, who is 73 and served as Redmond’s mayor from 1984-1992.

Many who have served in Redmond’s government have respect for the job the Marchione’s have done.

“They have some good leadership genes,” said former Redmond City Council president Nancy McCormick, who served with both John and Doreen. “They just work well with people.”

Doreen is a political trailblazer on the Eastside.

She founded the Redmond chapter of the League of Women Voters, was the third woman to be elected to the Redmond City Council, the second female mayor of Redmond and then moved to Kirkland, where she did something even more rare – won election in a second city. John said he could only think of two other people to win election in two separate cities.

Doreen first won election to Redmond’s city council in 1976, spending just $100 on fliers. She stepped down in 1978 to move to Atlanta for her husband’s job. The Marchiones moved back just a few years later and she was re-elected to council in 1981.

John has memories of going door-belling with his mother and attending political strategy meetings.

But the early elections were a learning experience for John.

“I think one of the most important things she taught me was to just ‘let it roll off your back,’” said John.

Those life lessons came in difficult ways.

“I had people coming up to me when I was 10 or 12 years old complaining to me about city issues,” he said. “I didn’t think it was fair.”

But the hardest thing for John was when people would criticize his mother.

“I remember reading letters to the editor against my mom and it was difficult,” said John, who is 46.

But those lessons have given John perspective when dealing with his own children and public life.

Doreen’s biggest contribution to both cities have come at tumultuous times. In 1983 she decided to challenge for mayor against two other people, including the first female mayor of Redmond, Chris Himes.

“When I ran there was a lot going on,” said Doreen. “Quarrels between the mayor and the council.”

Doreen ran trying to bring some civility and bridge the divide. But she did not take office with a mandate, winning a plurality with 49 percent of the vote, which was split three ways.

Doreen served two terms as Redmond mayor before losing to Rosemary Ives in 1991. She would go on to spend 15 years with Multi-Service Centers of North and East King County, or as it is known today, Hopelink, where she served as CEO.

But the call to public service stayed with Doreen and she saw another situation in 2009 with the Kirkland City Council that she could not let go. Scandals and ethical issues brought Doreen back into the political fray as she defeated incumbent Tom Hodgson for Position No. 7.

“She just loves to be involved,” said McCormick. “And she is having a ball so I am not surprised.”

Doreen, who said that the council has become more civil, was elected by the council to be Deputy Mayor in January.

“It was something I wanted to do and I have the experience,” said Doreen. “But I have no desire to be mayor.”

John too came into a difficult situation when he was elected mayor.

“My relationship with the council has been excellent but (the council’s relationship) was pretty rocky with the prior mayor,” said John.

His road to becoming mayor was a lot different from his mother.

After attending Seattle University, just as his mother had, he earned a masters degree from the University of Washington in public administration. He then worked his way up to eventually managing the King Dome budget and the debt financing for SafeCo Field.

“I saw my job as to protect the public,” said John. “I tried to make it strong enough to withstand a seven-year recession.”

That work paid off as the financing for the stadium withstood the events of Sept. 11 and resulting recession. The debt was even paid off early, something that John is tremendously proud of. He was elected mayor of Redmond in 2007.

“I recognized early on that he had great leadership skills,” said McCormick. “He has a wonderful sense of humor, which you have to have when managing people.”

But his job as mayor has been aided by his mother’s experience and his youth being spent in the city.

“Growing up in Redmond has been a tremendous help because I know three generations in this city,” said John.

There have been many issues that the two have dealt with as mayor of Redmond. Doreen oversaw the move of the Microsoft and Nintendo headquarters to Redmond, and John has a good working relationship with both, as they have become two of Redmond’s largest employers.

“I remember going to Bill Gates’ home for lunch along with the city council,” said Doreen, who was the eighth mayor of Redmond.

John, who is Redmond’s 10th mayor, now coordinates Redmond’s legislative agenda with Microsoft’s executives.

There are still some people in the Redmond city government who served with Doreen and now John. One person who has helped John in his efforts with Redmond’s upcoming 100th anniversary celebrations is former Mayor Chris Himes.

“If anyone has a reason to be bitter it is her and she has been great and so gracious,” said John.

John said that one interesting fact about his family is that he and his three other brothers have all married women who were trained in the teaching field.

“They all have the family value of service to the community,” said Doreen of her sons, noting that Michael is a pastoral assistant, Paul works with non-profit organizations in Washington D.C. and David has worked in social services.

But John and Doreen do not talk politics much.

“The family would not put up with it,” said Doreen, who has credited her ambition to the fact that her father died when she was six years old and was raised by a working single mother.

“We talk more about management issues and her grandkids,” said John.

As for a third mayor of Redmond or Kirkland named Marchione, John said that the service to community ethic is there, but he will let his children find their own way.