Lacey City Council members sworn in at first meeting of 2026

City of Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder, top left, and three city council members were sworn in at the council's first meeting of the year on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. Ryder and council members Carolyn Cox, top right, Maren Turner, bottom left, and Ryan Siu, bottom right, took their oaths from City Attorney David Schneider at Lacey City Hall.

The JOLT News Staff via Zoom

Posted Wednesday, January 7, 2026 3:40 pm

By Kameko Marquez

The City of Lacey opened 2026 with four oaths of office and a seventh mayoral term for Andy Ryder.

City Attorney David Schneider administered the oath of office to Maren Turner for Position 4, Ryder for Position 5, Ryan Siu for Position 6 and Carolyn Cox for Position 7 at a city council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

The Lacey City Council then reelected Ryder and Deputy Mayor Malcolm Miller to two-year terms. Turner and Siu join the seven-member council as first-time elected officials.

Turner is a gerontologist, who served as Chief of Home and Community Programs for the Aging and Long-Term Support Administration within the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. She campaigned on a platform of safe and affordable housing, and quality of life for residents, according to the Progressive Voters Guide.

Siu, meanwhile, worked as a program analyst at the Washington State Office of Public Defense and formerly as a paralegal. His campaign platform pushed housing, transportation and small business development, as detailed on his campaign website.

Cox returns for her third term on the council. She was first elected in 2018 and serves as chair of Intercity Transit Authority.

Ryder, for his part, has served on the city council since 2010 and held the mayor's seat since 2014.

Miller rounds out the leadership team with his third term in the No. 2 seat. He joined the council in 2020 and became deputy mayor in 2022.

How Lacey governs

Lacey runs on a council-manager system per Revised Code of Washington 35A.13. Policy making, budget adoption, tax levying and authorization of public improvements rest with the elected city council.

Administration of the city organization, on the other hand, goes to City Manager Rick Walk, who was appointed by the council as the city's chief executive officer.

Seven council members serve staggered four-year terms, with elections falling in November of odd-numbered years.

The council selects the mayor and deputy mayor from among its members. Both preside over public meetings and represent the city at official events.