Cool Cat: Mayor Nancy Lillquist

Mayor Nancy Lillquist By Ian Moffet

We all love Ellensburg. The city is quaint. There is a natural beauty to the environment. The people are nice. And of course, it is home to the Wildcats!

But who runs this great city? Let’s get to know our Mayor better!

Please state (and spell) your name and major/title?

Nancy Lillquist, Mayor, City of Ellensburg

Where are you from?

I grew up in Seattle until 3rd grade, and then Kent until I left for college.

Where did you go to school? I’m a Kentridge High School graduate?

I graduated from CWU with a Geography Degree and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a MS in Water Resources Management.

Why should people know about you?

People should know that I serve them as Mayor. If you have a complaint about the City government, or have an idea for how to improve the community, you can contact me.

On a 1-10 scale how stressful is your job?

Five. I enjoy working with the other Councilmembers, City Staff, and community members to solve problems and improve Ellensburg. But sometimes there aren’t good solutions and people are unhappy. Conflict can be stressful, but it also is the nature of serving in local government.

Why did you initially choose to run for public office ( city council, committees)?

I have always been interested in public policy and held leadership positions in High School. I was a full-time Mom at the time and served on the City’s Library Board. Some folks from the Kittitas County League of Women Voters encouraged me to run. I saw running for City Council as an opportunity to serve my community.

Why did you ultimately choose to run for mayor last year?

In Ellensburg, the Mayor is elected by the 7 members of the City Council, not the general public. When long-time Mayor Bruce Tabb moved away, I think I became the logical choice as the Councilmember with the most seniority. I also served as Mayor in 2008-2009, so I had experience.

What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned from your time as mayor so far?

The most important thing is to treat everyone with respect. Even when I disagree with a person, they need to know that I heard their concern and I believe that their viewpoint is valid. The choices we make are not “right” or “wrong”, they are what makes sense to the Council for the community at the time. We can have differences of opinion without being disrespectful.

Any advice to future individuals who want to run for public office?

Just do it! And have fun with the campaign. It is an opportunity to refine your thinking on issues as well as to meet your neighbors and hear their thoughts. Win or lose, you will have learned something.

What are your goals as of right now, to better the city of Ellensburg?

The Council has adopted a strategic vision with five main pillars we are focusing on – encouraging economic vitality, meeting housing needs, providing a safe and inclusive community, developing a plan for sustainable energy and reducing our carbon footprint, and working toward fiscally sustainable infrastructure. Within that last pillar, sustainable infrastructure, the loss of the Ellensburg Racquet and Recreation Center on Vantage Highway to arson has rearranged our priorities in a hurry, making replacing that fitness center in two years the current focus of attention.

What challenges have changed from 2001 (from your time on the city council) to 2023?

There is a continuum of issues, or maybe a repeating theme. Providing public parks and facilities, refining land use policies, reducing energy use, and maintaining our quality of life have been consistently before the Council. In 2002 we were planning to build a new City Hall , expand the Library, and provide downtown restrooms; in 2023 we are planning to replace the Racquet and Recreation Center, talking about a Community Center, and building Unity Park. In 2002, and every year since, we have amended the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Code to incorporate new ideas about how to make the code more fair and our community more livable. In the early 2000’s we were talking about energy efficiency and creating a community solar park; now we are developing a strategy to meet state climate goals. Issues such as creating an environment for successful businesses, preserving historic buildings, mitigating flooding, providing the right amount of parking, caring for abandoned animals all come up periodically. Ellensburg has grown in the last 20 years and continues to add new residents. Probably the biggest new challenge is the cost of housing – that was not on the Council’s radar in 2002.

What makes Ellensburg special?

There is so much that is special about Ellensburg. I love our location in Central Washington with nearby mountains and shrub-steppe environments, farms, forests and the Yakima River. I love the variety of the four seasons. Our historic downtown is charming. We have cohesive neighborhoods. We have residents that are willing to chip in to create great festivals and fun activities. CWU is an important part of our economy and our cultural experience – we have access to music, drama and lectures beyond what most towns our size have, and it results in a young demographic with students bringing energy and creativity when they engage with the community.

Mayor Lillquist takes pride in our city, she is a staunch supporter of the CWU Wildcat community and is extremely active in public life. It is safe to say that she is truly a cool cat!