One of the things I love most about Duvall is how our community comes together to celebrate all of who we are. From cultural festivals to events that uplift our LGBTQ+ neighbors, these moments of connection remind us that community is built by celebrating both what we share and what makes each of us unique.
When we create space for everyone to be seen and valued, we build a stronger, more resilient Duvall. That’s the kind of leadership I believe in—making sure every voice belongs at the table and every neighbor feels welcome.
Our differences don’t divide us here—they make us richer, more creative, and more connected. And together, we can keep building a Duvall where everyone feels at home.
From 2018 to 2021, I had the honor of serving on the King Conservation District Committee as a representative of Sound Cities Association (SCA), a regional body focused on sustainable land use, natural resource management, and conservation across King County.
Why does this matter for Duvall? Because our rivers, forests, farms, and open spaces shape our quality of life, property values, and community health. On the committee, I worked to ensure Duvall’s unique environmental needs were represented in regional planning and funding decisions.
During my service, I advocated for programs that supported local farmers, protected watersheds, and encouraged sustainable development. I also helped direct grants to strengthen our regional food system—supporting projects that kept farmland viable and connected residents to local food sources.
This behind-the-scenes work mattered. It helped small cities like Duvall have a voice, protected our natural resources, and supported a healthy Snoqualmie Valley for generations to come. These are the values I’ll continue to champion as your mayor.
If you’ve ever tried to get through the intersection of Highway 203 and Woodinville-Duvall Road during peak hours, you know it’s a mess—congestion, safety concerns, and a constant bottleneck for residents and commuters alike.
The good news? This intersection is now identified as a top priority in the City’s 2024 Transportation Plan. The study underway is evaluating long-term solutions, with goals that include:
Reducing congestion
Improving safety for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists
Keeping regional traffic flowing while protecting the character of our downtown
But here’s the reality: funding and regional coordination are going to be key. This intersection connects not just Duvall, but the entire valley—so we need to be at the table with WSDOT, King County, and other partners to get it done right.
As your next mayor, I’ll stay laser-focused on making sure this project doesn’t just sit on paper. I’ll advocate for the dollars, partnerships, and timelines it will take to move from study to action.
Let’s make sure our infrastructure grows with us—not against us.
What’s your experience at this intersection? Let me know below.
I’m reflecting on a post I wrote while first campaigning in 2017 for my Council Seat—Position #3. It was titled “Civility.”
Citizens expect a certain level of civility from their government. In meetings, people want to see courtesy and respect—it promotes efficient dialogue and real results. When civility breaks down, emotions can create roadblocks. And when it spills into emails or social media, the damage grows.
I shared that I would bring strong listening, de-escalation, and collaboration skills—tools I’d learned as a board president. Listening not just to reply, but to understand. Focusing on issues, not personalities. Valuing diverse priorities and working together.
If elected, I promised to lead with respect and keep the focus on what matters: our community.
Now, 8 years later—and after serving three years as Mayor Pro Tem—I still believe every word I wrote. But I’ve also learned some things you only understand by doing the work day in and day out.
Here’s what time and experience have taught me:
🔹 Civility doesn’t mean silence. It’s not about avoiding hard conversations—it’s about having them in a way that keeps the door open instead of slamming it shut.
🔹 Disagreement isn’t dysfunction. In fact, respectful disagreement is a sign of a healthy government. The challenge is building enough trust that differences of opinion don’t derail the work.
🔹 Strong relationships behind the scenes matter just as much as what happens on the dais. A quick phone call, a check-in after a tough meeting—those moments are where mutual respect is built.
🔹 Tone starts at the top. Whether you’re in the minority or leading the room, how you carry yourself sets the tone. As Mayor Pro Tem, I’ve taken that responsibility seriously.
My commitment to civility, collaboration, and constructive dialogue hasn’t changed. But my toolkit has grown. And I’m ready to bring those lessons forward into serving as your next mayor.
Civility by Amy McHenry (original post from 2017)
Citizens expect a certain level of civility from their government, on all levels. In meetings, people want to see courtesy and respect among all the members of a government body because those mindsets promote efficient dialogue. When we witness civility on the decline in public meetings, it hints at emotions stepping into play and forming roadblocks to effective dialogue and results for the community. Worse yet is when this behavior leaks into city emails and social media.
Some of my skills I will put to work if elected as your councilmember are good listening, de-escalation and collaboration. I am a good listener because I don’t just care about other people’s perspectives, I want to understand why they think what they do. Only when we stop listening to simply reply can we hear thoughts in their entirety. There often comes a time when emotions are running high and I have experienced this in my role as a board president. De-escalation starts with everyone taking a break, a leader checking on individuals and giving them a chance to express themselves unopposed before coming back to the table. Collaboration requires a willingness to debate issues, not personalities.
Every councilmember has issues they feel strongly about, an agenda. On a council, each member will have some overlapping, but mostly different issues of importance to themselves. This is valuable to the community in that it allows for a large range of issues to be actively addressed in meetings. Good relationships between councilmembers lead to better collaboration and results for our community.
Throwback Thursday to that strange and somber year when we had to cancel Duvall Days due to the pandemic.
But even in the quietest times, Duvall’s heart kept beating. One community member had the sweetest idea—to bring a little joy to the woman who carried the torch for Duvall Days for so many years: Kim Piira.
When the call went out to do a surprise parade past her house, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I took the top off my Jeep, buckled in a giant inflatable giraffe (love it or hate it—you’ve got to respect the spotted ungulate for finding its way into our town’s heart), and joined the celebration.
That drive-by wasn’t just about saying thank you. It was a reminder that even when events get canceled, community doesn’t
Reducing congestion
Amy McHenry for Duvall Mayor 