Tag: #duvallmayor

Duvall Chamber Q&A

amymcforduvall

From the Duvall Chamber of Commerce Candidate Town Hall — a question about infrastructure, growth, and accessibility.

Q: Construction projects (like the 3rd Avenue improvements) have impacts on customer traffic. How would each of you ensure that major infrastructure projects don’t unintentionally harm small businesses during implementation?

A: Infrastructure improvements are essential, but they can’t come at the expense of the businesses that make Duvall vibrant. Planning with—not just around—businesses ensures we come out of every project stronger.

My approach includes:

• Early communication and collaboration: Meet with affected businesses before projects start to plan for access, signage, and timing.

• Real-time updates: Use social media, email alerts, and signage to keep residents informed about detours and parking options.

• Support measures: Coordinate with the Chamber and community groups to drive traffic to impacted areas—through local promotions, “construction specials,” or city-sponsored events that keep people coming downtown.

Duvall Chamber Q&A

amymcforduvall

From the Duvall Chamber of Commerce Candidate Town Hall — a question about supporting small business and economic growth.

Q: How do you plan to balance business diversity — supporting Main Street storefronts, off-main businesses, and home-based businesses alike?

A: Duvall’s economy thrives because of its diversity — from Main Street retailers to home-based entrepreneurs. Each brings something valuable to our community. As mayor, I’d:

• Update our business license and zoning data to better understand where growth is happening and tailor city resources accordingly.

• Ensure equal access to city support and promotion programs, whether a business operates downtown or from a home office.

• Encourage flexible space use downtown—such as pop-up shops, shared spaces, and incubator programs—to make it easier for startups and artisans to test new ideas locally.

We should celebrate and strengthen every kind of business that helps Duvall’s economy stay local and resilient.

Budget

amymcforduvall

Campaign season can get heated, and sometimes people say things that don’t reflect the kind of community we want to build together. I’m choosing to stay focused on what matters — serving Duvall and leading with respect and transparency. I believe voters deserve campaigns based on ideas and solutions. This biennium’s (2025–2026) budget reflects our current community input and available resources. It’s flexible and designed to meet present needs while giving the next mayor and council full freedom to adjust priorities.

Using accumulated cash balance for what residents value doesn’t create future obligations, it simply gives us time to pilot community-supported ideas and engage residents about what they’d like to continue. This approach is a standard practice in local government, and we also maintain healthy reserves. Each biennium starts fresh. Future councils and residents will decide whether to continue, modify, or discontinue programs based on updated revenues, needs, and feedback. Some parts of the budget are required by law, some reflect long-standing community priorities, and a smaller portion is discretionary.

I know our staff and elected officials are committed to cutting costs and maximizing every taxpayer dollar. My goal is to make sure residents understand how and why spending choices are made, and to invite them into those choices. We’ll do that through public budget workshops, online engagement, and a citywide survey to understand which nonessential programs matter most to you.

Nothing in this budget is permanent. Right now, we’re laying the foundation to discover what our community values most, what we can afford, and- if we can’t sustain everything within existing resources- whether there’s willingness to fund certain priorities through a levy or other funding options. Every answer and perspective is valid, and every resident’s voice will shape the path forward.

Click on the #budget hashtag below the photo to see all my Budget Related Posts from as early as February of this year!

Throwback Thursday

amymcforduvall

Throwback Thursday to the morning we got a message on our Jeeps asking if we could join a very special birthday celebration, a car parade for a young, car-loving birthday boy.

Of course, we said yes! We showed up to the meetup point and got to check out an incredible lineup of vehicles — classics, muscle cars, Jeeps, and everything in between.

Rolling through the neighborhood and seeing the look of pure joy on the birthday boy’s face (and all the smiles from neighbors along the route) was just the best. 💛

It was such a reminder of how small gestures, like showing up, can make a big impact.

Who do I look up to?

amymcforduvall

Sharing another Ballotpedia Q&A!

Q: Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

A: I look up to my dad, a Coast Guard veteran, whose example of service, discipline, and integrity has profoundly shaped who I am. From a young age, I watched him put service above self, face challenges with calm determination, and approach every responsibility with honesty, accountability, and preparation. He taught me the importance of always being ready, thinking ahead, and acting thoughtfully under pressure. His dedication to protecting and serving the public inspired me to make service a central principle in my own life.

I strive to follow his example in all that I do—as a parent, small business owner, volunteer, and public servant. On City Council and as Mayor Pro Tem, I have worked to show up, do the work, and make decisions that reflect fairness, thoughtfulness, and a focus on the greater good. I prioritize transparency, collaboration, and preparation in every project, whether managing budgets, guiding policy, or engaging with residents. My dad’s example reminds me that integrity, commitment, and preparedness are the foundations of leadership and the keys to making a meaningful, lasting impact in our community.

You can read my full Q&A here: https://ballotpedia.org/Amy_McHenry_(Mayor_of_Duvall,_Washington,_candidate_2025)