Olympia honors Mayor Cheryl Selby for her 10 years of service

Olympia Mayor Cheryl Selby adjourned the December 19, 2023, city council meeting with a final pound of the gavel, marking the conclusion of her decade-long service to the city.  

The city council held a special farewell ceremony to honor the outgoing mayor. It kicked off with a tribute video that highlighted Selby's accomplishments.  

Councilmembers then shared their appreciation for Selby. Mayor Pro Tem Clark Gilman thanked the mayor for what he said was her consistent presence and leadership through difficult decisions, the pandemic, and cultural and arts achievements over the past decade.  

"A person who always showed up, no matter what we were facing or how much uncertainty we were facing… always ethical and graceful. It is super valuable to have you here," Gilman said of Selby.  

Councilmember Dani Madrone commended the mayor for what Madrone praised as her ability to learn, grow, and change perspective on issues over time based on new information and understanding. She referenced Selby shifting her stance on the Deschutes Estuary restoration. 

Councilmember Dontae Payne, who will sit as mayor next year, noted that he and Selby shared a commitment to "governance over ideology" and commended her for exemplifying this during the COVID-19 pandemic by promoting the use of masks and following science.  

Payne described Selby as having grit and courage and commanding respect. He acknowledged he had “big shoes” to fill but that he hoped to accomplish “half of what she achieved” during her tenure. 

Councilmember Jim Cooper said Selby's tenure would be remembered as the "Selby Era" (in a joking reference to the cultural phenomenon of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour), saying Selby’s staff helped make Olympia "a world-class city.” He praised the mayor's leadership, saying she took time and effort to make the city's legislative body focus on data, outcomes, and interpersonal relationships. 

Councilmembers Lisa Parshley and Yen Huynh described Selby as a “graceful” leader.  

Parshley pointed out that Selby demonstrated “graceful leadership” by guiding the city through many crises, including, according to Parshley, homelessness, climate change, the pandemic, the ongoing housing crisis, issues of public safety and systemic racism, the opioid crisis, the loss of Roe v. Wade, and establishment of Olympia as a sanctuary city. “This is what this amazing, brave leader has taken us through,” Parshley said. 

City Manager Jay Burney thanked Selby for the care and respect she reportedly showed staff during challenging times. 

In her concluding remarks, Selby thanked her family for their support through her career in public service. 

When she came into office in 2014, Selby noted she had the honor of working with Steve Hall, who she described as one of Washington State's most respected city managers at the time. She said this honor was extended as the city selected Burney. 

Selby stated that the culture of a city starts at the head, and said she was proud to have worked for the city with Hall and Burney. 

While she said she was proud of representing Olympia, Selby credited the city's smart policies and staff for those opportunities. She stated her intent to remain involved in the community as she steps back from her mayoral role. 

Mayor Pro Tem Clark Gilman and councilmembers gifted Mayor Cheryl Selby a gavel as a token of appreciation for her leadership.

According to Olympia City information on elected officials: 

- Cheryl Selby was first elected to the Olympia City Council in Position #4 in November 2013, serving a four-year term. 

- In November 2015, she was elected to Council Position #1, serving a four-year term as mayor. 

- She was reelected as Mayor in November 2019 for another four-year mayoral term. 

- Passing the 2017 Public Safety Levy provided dedicated revenue to support police officer training in best practices and help move the Municipal Court toward a restorative justice model. 

- Passing the 2018 Home Fund ballot measure, whose revenue has helped build over 200 supportive housing units and added shelter capacity in Olympia.  

- Passing the Cultural Access ballot measure. This program aims to provide low-resourced households access to arts, culture, and history programming in Olympia. It is also intended to support the community's local arts and cultural organizations.