Kirkland mayor, deputy mayor reappointed; elected councilmembers sworn in

Mayor Penny Sweet and deputy mayor Jay Arnold will continue in their roles.

By Blake Peterson • January 16, 2020 8:30 am

Penny Sweet and Jay Arnold are still the mayor and deputy mayor of Kirkland, respectively, following a vote by the council at the Jan. 7 council meeting.

Sweet has served on the council since 2010; Arnold has served since 2014.

Re-elected councilmembers Kelli Curtis and Toby Nixon and newcomer Amy Falcone were also sworn in during the meeting.

Kirkland functions using a council-manager government, which means that council appoints the mayor and deputy mayor.

“It is an honor to once again be selected by my colleagues to serve as Kirkland’s mayor,” Sweet said in a statement to the Reporter. “I am excited about our new council. New members bring new ideas, and I’m thrilled about the fact that there are more women now serving on the council.”

Sweet noted that Kirkland is “currently at a crossroads.”

“We’ve experienced tremendous growth, and while this growth has benefited many, we know that it has also resulted in challenges for many that wish to access housing in our city…This new council has an amazing opportunity to tackle these issues with fresh ideas, and to develop strategies that will address issues of equity, so that Kirkland can be a great place for all people to live, work and play,” she said.

Both Sweet and Arnold’s terms continue over the next two years.

“I’m thrilled to once again be able to do great work with a group of councilmembers that are dedicated to the welfare of our community,” said Arnold in a statement to the Reporter.

He said he is looking forward to working on two initiatives — the first and second part of the Enhanced Police Services and Community Safety Ballot Measure (Prop. 1) — and the completion of Kirkland’s first Sustainability Master Plan.

“The creation of this plan is vital to ensuring that our community continues to grow in a way that is compatible with our commitment to sustainability,” Arnold said.

To watch the councilmember swear-in process and the mayoral appointments, go to bit.ly/2Ngw8ie.