City Council Candidate Resources

This page includes resources and information for candidates who have filed for election to the Woodinville City Council or for any residents interested in learning more about the election.

The Woodinville City Council consists of seven residents who are elected to four-year terms by the community. Elections are "at-large," meaning councilmembers represent the population of the whole city, rather than individual electoral districts. Councilmembers are elected to staggered terms with three seats on the ballot in 2023 for terms beginning in 2024.

Questions? Council candidates may submit questions to the City Clerk who will coordinate providing answers. Responses will be posted on the right-hand side of this page (bottom of page for mobile browsers) so that all candidates have access to the same information. For all questions or inquiries, please email Katie Hanke, City Clerk, at katieh@ci.woodinville.wa.us.

Campaign Signs

All signs placed within Woodinville City limits, including campaign signs, are regulated by Woodinville Municipal Code (WMC) Chapter (External link) 21.44.100. Please read these regulations carefully before placing any signs in the community. Campaign staff and volunteers are responsible for knowing where signs can and cannot be located.

Size

The type of sign and its location will determine the allowable size.

Where such signs are located within a public right-of-way, sign area as measured pursuant to WMC 21.44.050(1)(b) shall not exceed four square feet and the sign shall not exceed four feet in height above the ground surface
Where such signs are located on private property, sign area as measured pursuant to WMC 21.44.050(1)(b) shall not exceed 32 square feet in size and the sign shall not exceed six feet in height above the ground surface when a freestanding sign or exceed the height allowed for building signs when a building sign;
Temporary political signs within public rights-of-way may have the height increased, and temporary political signs attached to a building that are made of wood or metal may be allowed, provided such signs obtain a sign permit to verify safety and structural review.

Placement

Temporary political signs must be installed in such a manner as not to constitute a traffic hazard or impair or impede pedestrian thoroughfares. No political sign placed within the public right-of-way shall be installed within the median of the roadway or create a safety hazard for pedestrians or motorists as determined by the Director.

Duration

Political signs, posters, or bills may be displayed from the closing date for filing for an election until seven days after the general election. It shall be the responsibility of the candidate to have their campaign/political signs removed or the City may remove such signs at the candidate’s expense.

Woodinville Form of Government

Woodinville was formally incorporated as a city in 1993. Woodinville has a Council-Manager form of governance, with seven elected Council Members responsible for policy and the overall strategic direction of the City. Woodinville's Mayor and Deputy Mayor are members of Council chosen by their Council peers to serve in leadership roles. Woodinville's City Manager is appointed by the City Council and is responsible for the day-to-day management of City services and affairs.

Under the council-manager statutes, the city council is prohibited from interfering with the manager's administration. The City Manager, however, is directly accountable to and can be removed by a majority vote of the council.

The council-manager form is based on the model of a business with a board of directors that appoints a Chief Executive Officer. Another familiar public example is the school board-superintendent relationship.

In council-manager cities, the council appoints a ceremonial mayor to chair the council meetings and who is recognized as the head of the city for ceremonial purposes but has no regular administrative duties. The council also appoints a deputy mayor to serve in the mayor's absence.

For more information on forms of government, please see this article from MRSC: City and Town Forms of Government