MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Councilwoman Jamie Gravelle received pink roses, an award and a sincere thank you from the Mountlake Terrace City Council on Monday for her many years of service to the city.
Gravelle didn’t run for re-election. Her second term ends Dec. 31.
“Eight years is a long time to do it,” Gravelle said. “The last four years have been very contentious. It is time to do new things. I may run again in the future.”
Newcomer Michelle Angrick, who defeated Eric Teegarden, will take Gravelle’s seat in January.
From 2000 to 2003, Gravelle served as Mayor pro tem. Mayor Jerry Smith handed over the gavel Monday night so that Gravelle could chair the Council’s last meeting of the year.
“I have seen her grow as a leader,” Councilwoman Laura Sonmore said. “I am really sad to see you go.”
Gravelle, a Mountlake Terrace resident since 1988, encouraged the city to look forward and plan for the future. During her tenure, the city renovated the recreation pavilion, built a new fire station and built a new water tower. She enjoyed it most when “things were clicking” between the council, staff and residents.
“You knew you were doing the right things for the right reasons,” she said. “The first four years were wonderful. We really clicked. We had some big disagreements about how we wanted to do what. The end product was never in doubt.”
Gravelle said the most significant reason for her departure is the tone of the Council.
“The second four years, we have wasted amazing amounts of time. And that is really all of our faults. We allowed ourselves to be pulled back instead of continuing to go forward,” Gravelle said. “I have fought this battle for four years trying to keep things on track. You get tired.”
Snohomish County Councilman Dave Gossett, who worked with Gravelle on the Terrace City Council from 1998 to 2001, praised Gravelle for her strong leadership, hard work and candor. In 2000 and 2001, Gossett served as mayor and Gravelle as mayor pro tem.
When the city faced a tight budget in recent years, she put politics aside and made the tough decisions to protect the city’s financial health, Gossett said.
“It has been a real pleasure,” said Gossett, a Mountlake Terrace resident. “She is a nice person to work with and to be around. She has done a great job representing the city.”
Gravelle said she is looking forward to dedicating more time and energy with the American Red Cross. Professionally, she is the emergency coordinator with Emergency Services Coordinator Agency. She said she will keep following city affairs and will get involved with the issues that she cares about. She encouraged all residents to do the same.
“Come down and see what is coming down. Make your voices heard. Be part of the process.”
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