Community Government
Gig Harbor City Council member Brenda Lykins has resigned, effective Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Lykins made the announcement at a council meeting on Monday. Her family is moving away from Gig Harbor, so she will no longer be eligible to serve, she said.
Lykins’ term expires Dec. 31, 2025.
Brenda Lykins
“It has been my honor and privilege to serve the residents of the city, and my privilege to work alongside my honorable fellow council members and talented city staff,” Lykins said in an email to Gig Harbor Now.
“I have learned so much in the role and I am deeply grateful for the opportunities I have had to contribute to the success of the city over the last several years,” she continued in her statement.
“I will always cherish the great work we have achieved together, and I look forward to seeing the continued success of the city.”
Lykins is a semi-retired nurse certified in neonatology. She defeated former councilmember Jim Franich in November 2021 to win her council seat.
During the 2021 campaign, Lykins emphasized that Gig Harbor “needs representation for all its citizens, not just certain groups. Citizens want their voices to be heard and to be respected.” At that time, Lykins and her husband had lived in Gig Harbor for six years.
Selected as mayor pro tempore
The council picked Lykins to serve as mayor pro tempore last year. The mayor pro tem assumes the duties of the mayor in the mayor’s absence. She acted in that capacity for a week last fall after Mayor Tracie Markley on Nov. 18, before the council selected Mary Barber as the city’s new chief executive.
Council member Jeni Woock noted that Lykins has “done important work” during her tenure. “Thank you to Councilmember Lykins for running and being elected to our city council and for your years of service,” Woock said. “Thank you for thoroughly researching our study session agenda items. Your educated input and comments have been invaluable. You will be missed.”
City Administrator Katrina Knutson echoed Woock’s comments: “Councilmember Lykins will be sorely missed on the council,” Knutson wrote in an email. “Brenda approached her work on the council with professionalism and curiosity, always willing to consider all sides of an issue prior to finalizing her opinion.”
Knutson added that Lykins was “a significant supporter” of establishing the city’s Housing, Health, and Human Services (H3) program in late 2023. The program was developed through use of opioid settlement funds. “Finding win-win solutions to complex problems is a skill Brenda embodies and it will be missed,” Knutson said.
Next steps
The city council will meet in a study session at 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, to discuss how to fill Lykins’ seat. “We won’t know how the process will work until council provides that direction,” City Clerk Josh Stecker said in an email.
Four of the city’s seven council positions will be up for election in November. In addition to Lykins’ seat, these positions also expire on Dec. 31, 2025:
- Council Position 1 – currently held by Jeni Woock
- Council Position 2 – currently held by Roger Henderson
- Council Position 7 – currently held by Seth Storset
Woock has already announced that she will not run for re-election.
In addition to the council positions, the mayor’s seat will also be for election on November 4. Barber will serve as mayor until Nov. 25, when the Nov. 4 election is certified. The winner of the Nov. 4 mayoral election will assume position on Nov. 25, according to Stecker.
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