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MAYOR AND COUNCIL

Form of Government

The City is a “Code City” as described under Title 35A in the Revised Code of Washington. Black Diamond
operates under a strong Mayor form of government with seven elected Councilmembers serving staggered four-year terms. The Mayor serves as the Chief Administrative Officer of the City and may hire a City Administrator to assist in day-to-day operations. The Council acts as the legislative body. When the City reaches a population of 5,000 state law requires expansion to a seven-member Council. View the Council Rules of Procedure.

The City Council meets regularly the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7 p.m. at the Council Chambers, 25510 Lawson Street. Regular work sessions are scheduled for the second Thursdays of the month at 6 p.m. and are also held in the Council Chambers. Special meetings are noticed at least 24 hours prior. View current Council Agenda and Packet Material.

Councilmembers serve staggered four-year terms. Positions are not by district, as all members serve “at large.” Current Councilmembers serving the citizens of Black Diamond are:

Mayor Benson grew up on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle. She attended Bellevue Community College and the University of Washington. She was also an instructor for Renton Technical College, teaching Small Business Accounting for several years.

Her entire career has been working in Finance and Management, in many different industries. Before retiring, she spent the last 25 years as Chief Financial Officer in the Civil Engineering, Land Development and Underground Utilities construction industries.

Mayor Benson has lived in the Black Diamond area since 1979, where she raised her two sons. She enjoys gardening, hiking, boating and spending time with her grandchildren.

Mayor Carol Benson
cbenson@blackdiamondwa.gov
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2021
 

Councilmember Deady grew up in Black Diamond and graduated from Enumclaw High School in 1988, after high school she attended Highline Community College.

In 1990, Councilmember Deady married her high school sweetheart Brock Deady and moved to Spokane where they had two children Christopher and Quentyn. After five years in Spokane they moved back to Black Diamond. In 1996 she built a house on the property where she grew up and in the following years had two more children, Joshua and Mariah.

Councilmember Deady has been active in her children's school and sports activities and has served on the Black Diamond volunteer Fire Department.

Councilmember Deady enjoys any outdoor activites such as camping, gardening and hiking. Her hobbies include sewing, quilting and scrapbooking, she also likes to play volleyball and raquetball.

Councilmember Deady serves on the following Council Standing Committee:

- Planning/Community Service Committee
- Public Works Committee

Councilmember Tamie Deady
Position No. 1

tdeady@blackdiamondwa.gov
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2023
 


Councilmember Oglesbee and her husband Shawn bought their first home in historical Black Diamond in 2006.  Raising their three children Rebecca, Cole and Izek through the Enumclaw school district.  Melissa was raised in Maple Valley and graduated from Tahoma High School.  She was elected to the City of Black Diamond council in 2017 and serves a four-year term.

She enjoys volunteering in the community and helping others.  While her kids were young, she volunteered and help re-establish the Black Diamond Cub Scouts Pack #581.  Volunteered with Black Diamond Elementary fundraisers, Black Diamond Community Center fundraisers, Black Diamond museum “Miners Day” “Hometown Christmas” and Chairman for the “Black Diamond Labor Days” for five years. 

Currently she is a member of the Black Diamond Museum, Black Diamond Gun Club and is a proud owner of her small business “Nothing Fancy” in Enumclaw WA.  She volunteers with the Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce with “Sunday’s on Cole” and other public events. 


 

 


 

Councilmember Oglesbee serves on the following Council Standing Committee:


- Public Safety Committee

Councilmember Melissa Oglesbee
Position No. 2

moglesbee@blackdiamondwa.gov
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2021
 


Chris, his wife Hannah and their two young children, moved to Black Diamond over 5 years ago because it is “a great place to raise a family”. As a former firefighter and medic, Chris felt that a position on the City Council was the best way that he could continue to serve the community they now call home.

Chris has worked for over 25 years in the Healthcare technology field, most recently as an Enterprise Architect at Premera Blue Cross, but his former roles include roles in technology management, and technology consulting, where he was able to travel all over the US & Canada to help customers meet their strategic and tactical goals.

An avid gardener, and lover of the outdoors, and the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, Chris finds his “Happy Place” in our natural spaces.

As a Ham Radio operator, he understands the need to help the community prepare for potential natural or man made disasters, and the important role communications play in a resilient community.  

Chris hopes that his work on the City Council will help Black Diamond continue to be “a great place to raise a family”, and keep its small community, welcoming & neighborly charm. 

Chris welcomes all his neighbors in Black Diamond to feel free to provide him feedback either by email or in person. He values your input. As my grandfather once told him “You have two ears and only one mouth, do twice as much listening as you do speaking”. 

 

 

 

Councilmember Wisnoski serves on the following Council Standing Committee:

- Budget/Finance/Administration Committee

Councilmember Chris Wisnoski
Position No. 3
cwisnoski@blackdiamondwa.gov

Appointment ends when the November 2021 election is certified.
 
 


Leih Mulvihill
Position No. 4
lmulvihill@blackdiamondwa.gov

January 2018 - December 31, 2021
 




Kristiana de Leon grew up in Kent, Washington, attending Kentwood High School. For her undergraduate degrees in Global Studies, Chinese Studies, and Scandinavian Studies, and for her Master’s Degree in Education, Kristiana attended Pacific Lutheran University. Kristiana worked in the public education system for seven years, first as an administrative assistant in a high school counseling center, and later as a secondary teacher for ELL (English Language Learners) and English Language Arts. Kristiana is now an assistant manager in the Four Corners area. She enjoys hiking and trail running, attending and guest instructing group fitness classes, traveling, and continuously learning.

Kristiana and her husband Andrew are delighted to live in historic Black Diamond and to be owned by two Alaskan Malamutes.



Councilmember serves on the following Council Standing Committee:

- Planning/Community Services Committee
-
Budget/Finance/Administration Committee

Councilmember Kristiana de Leon
Position No. 5
   
kdeleon@blackdiamondwa.gov
January 2020 - December 31, 2023
 

Bernie and his wife Connie have lived in Black Diamond for the past fourteen years.  They have two sons and a daughter and enjoy the natural beauty, small-town charm, and history of Black Diamond. 

In addition to his city council appointment, Bernie is president of Rock Project Management Services located in Renton.  Bernie is experienced overseeing large teams of project managers and construction managers on major infrastructure projects in the Pacific Northwest. Government and public projects include civic buildings, transportation and energy, power and water facilities, K-12 and higher education facilities, and healthcare facilities.  With over $5 billion in local project experience,  Bernie brings strategic team leadership to optimize outcomes.

As City Council Member Position No. 6, appointed October 2020, Bernie is excited to offer his leadership skills and technical experience:
“For 14 years, I have been a consumer of public services as a resident of Black Diamond.  I am humbled to now serve as a city council member offering my experience collaborating to arrive at impactful positive results for the community we serve.”

Bernie is actively engaged in many worthy causes and volunteers his time regularly. He is an advocate for families and public safety, small businesses and economic opportunities, environmentally responsible community projects, and social justice and equity programs.

Bernie is a graduate from the University of Washington, Architectural Studies, and attended Central Washington University and Washington State University.  He is a certified LEAN Black Belt for fiscal-responsible management and efficient processes.
Bernie enjoys hiking, biking, fishing, boating, camping and back yard barbeques in his spare time.

Councilmember serves on the following Council Standing Committee:

- Budget/Finance/Administration Committee
- Public Works Committee

Councilmember Bernie O'Donnell
Position No. 6
   
bodonnell@blackdiamondwa.gov
Appointment ends when the November 2021 election is certified.
 



 

 










Debbie Page
Position No. 7
   
dpage@blackdiamondwa.gov
Appointment ends when the November 2021 election is certified.
 




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