Jeff Wagner selected as new mayor of Covington

There’s a new mayor in town.

Jeff Wagner was unanimously selected as mayor of Covington at the Jan. 12 City Council meeting.

Wagner takes over the position after Councilwoman Margaret Harto announced her retirement last December after serving as mayor for 10 years.

Wagner was elected to the City Council in 2003, taking office in 2004. He has lived in the city since 1988.

“I really look forward to working with our staff, and we have a great staff,” Wagner said. “I also want to work closely with the citizens.”

Aside from the council, Wagner has been active in the community for decades, helping with Covington Days, the Covington Kiwanis Club, Covington Merchants Association and the Covington Chamber of Commerce.

He was one of the founding members of the chamber.

According to the city of Covington’s website, he was also involved with Reach Out Covington and the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon.

Prior to serving on the council, Wagner was a member of the Economic Development Committee and he was on member of the governing board in 1993-94 deciding on incorporation.

In 1993, Wagner was voted Kiwanian of the Year.

Looking into the future from the mayor’s chair, Wagner said, “We want to make sure we have parks and athletic facilities for our youth.”

The mayor added transportation was also a high priority for the city.

“We all have to work on this together,” Wagner said. “We have to work hand in hand with Sound Cities Association, our state senator and representatives.”

The mayor works as the municipal relationship manager with Republic Services. He owned and operated a family business from 1988 to 2005.

Wagner and his wife Michelle have three daughters ages 3,4 and 7,

Along with the change at mayor, the City Council unanimously selected Sean Smith as the new mayor pro tem. Wagner had served in that position for the past six years

Smith has lived in Washington state for most of his life but he didn’t move back to the Puget Sound area until 2005 after work with the National Park Service and environmental nonprofits took him to San Francisco.

When looking for a place to live in the Puget Sound region, Smith said he and his wife, “visited and researched a number of communities looking for good schools, safe neighborhoods, diverse residents, affordable housing” and many other key factors.

That is when they landed in Covington.

“We found all (those) things in Covington,” he said.

One of his priorities since moving to Covington was to get involved with the community’s future.

“My time in Covington has taught me that communities and cities benefit when its citizens take an active role in shaping its destiny,” Smith said. “I am honored to serve the citizens of Covington on their City Council.”

Smith joined the City Council a year ago in January 2015.

Prior to that he served on the Planning Commission for five years.

When looking ahead to the future of Covington and what Smith sees as goals for the city, he noted “there are four E’s to creating sound, healthy, just and lasting communities.”

Those four E’s include the economy, environment, education and efficient government.

“Covington is better assured a strong economy, healthy environment and well educated public when its city government runs efficiently,” he said.

As mayor pro tem, Smith will work closely with Wagner and Covington’s City Manager Regan Bolli.

When dealing with the economy, he said providing a living wage is key to Covington’s future.

“Thankfully, Covington has one of the fastest growing retail sectors in the state,” he said. “We are soon to be the site of a new hospital and medical facilities. I am proud to play a part in this growth and diversification, having served in a lead role in the authorization of the Hawk Property redevelopment, the creation of a new town center, and expansion of affordable housing.”

Secondly, the environment is important Smith said because it “provides residents wiht an unmatched quality of life.”

He added, “A clean environment with access to public spaces makes Covington an attractive place to work, live and play.”

As far as education goes, Smith said “To attract good, high paying jobs communities must hae a well educated workforce.”

Right now Covington is home to top rated elementary and secondary schools, he said.

“Covington is working with Green River College and Eastern Washington University on establishing a branch campus where students can get advanced medical degrees,” Smith said.

And finally, “Covington is better assured a strong economy, healthy environment, and well educated public when it’s city government runs efficiently,” he said.