It’s an honor and privilege for me to serve as Mayor of this beautiful city. There is no doubt in my mind that Edmonds is the most desirable place to call home in Washington State. We have managed to maintain our small-town character as we have grown to become the second largest city in Snohomish County.

Edmonds is the oldest city in the county, having been founded in 1890. We are located just a few minutes north of Seattle on the shores of Puget Sound. As you drive into town, you are treated to magnificent views of the Olympic Mountains. We are fortunate to have a very active marina within the confines of the Port of Edmonds. And, of course, Edmonds serves as the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula via a Washington State ferry.

A rich history is complemented by our strong interest in the arts. We are proud of our Arts Commission and pleased that the Olympic Ballet and the Cascade Symphony call Edmonds home. We offer concerts in the parks, the Edmonds Arts Festival, and an annual writers’ conference. Stop in and visit our Historical Museum. And, of course, we are home to such fun events as A Taste of Edmonds and Hot Autumn Nites, our annual classic car show. For active and leisure activities, our Parks & Recreation Department is first class.

A city our age and size seldom has the good fortune to possess a viable, downtown retail business core. Our well-maintained, older buildings are home to many customer-friendly retailers. As you stroll downtown, see if you feel the “sense of place” that we who live here are so lucky to enjoy on a daily basis. After your downtown stroll, continue on to the waterfront and walk the boardwalk from Brackett’s Landing Park to Marina Beach Park.

Our neighborhood retail centers provide additional shopping experiences. And if mall shopping is your thing, you’re a short drive away from Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood. With the advent of commuter rail, Edmonds is only minutes away from Mariners, Seahawks, and Storm games. 

Thanks for visiting our web site. We who call Edmonds home love it here. Please take the opportunity to visit us and experience what we have come to call “an Edmonds kind of day.”

Gary Haakenson is a Northwest native, having grown up in the Seattle area. He attended Blanchet High School and Seattle University, where he received a degree in business administration. Gary spent most of his career in the retail field. He managed several departments for JC Penney, and later started his own clothing business. He co-founded Above the Belt/Zumiez, a national young men’s retail clothing chain. Gary joined the Edmonds City Council in 1996 and in January 2000 became the Mayor of Edmonds. He was re-elected to a second term as Mayor beginning in 2004, and a third term beginning in 2008. Gary is married to Dolly, and they have two married sons, Brett and Bryan. Gary and Dolly became grandparents in 2006 and now have two granddaughters, Matea and Dahlia, and two grandsons, Alex and Sam.

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