PRESS RELEASE - Port Townsend City Council Elects Amy Howard as Mayor and Owen Rowe as Deputy Mayor

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor serve two-year terms in Port Townsend’s Council-Manager form of government. 

January 7, 2026 PORT TOWNSEND – On Monday, January 5, Port Townsend City Council elected Amy Howard as Mayor and Owen Rowe as Deputy Mayor. Howard has served two consecutive two-year terms as Deputy Mayor and has held a position on City Council since 2016. Rowe has served on City Council since 2020and this is his first term as Deputy Mayor. 

Both Councilmembers are active participants in the Association of Washington Cities, with Howard currently serving on the board. Howard has also earned a certificate of Nonprofit Executive Leadership from the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington, as well as an Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership through the Association of Washington Cities. She has worked with many organizations throughout Jefferson County, with a focus on human services. Howard is currently the Manager of Volunteer Engagement at Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County.

“I am deeply honored to have been selected by the Port Townsend City Council to serve as Mayor. It is a privilege to represent this community that I love so much and to work together toward a thriving future for our city,” said Mayor Howard.

Rowe has also earned a Certificate of Municipal Leadership from Association of Washington Cities. Rowe’s work on Council focuses on supporting and strengthening cultural and social institutions, 
building the creative economy, extending equity and access to government, and ensuring that Port Townsend’s social and physical infrastructure can adapt to climate change and other emergent global crises. Rowe currently works as the Financial and Business Operations Coordinator at the Jefferson County WSU Extension.

“I always try to bring a long-term perspective to my work on City Council. Our decisions are an important investment in Port Townsend’s future,” said Deputy Mayor Rowe in a recent message to the community.

The positions of Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected by the seven-member Council to serve two-year terms in Port Townsend’s Council-Manager form of government. Councilmembers are the primary 
legislators while City Manager John Mauro oversees staff in day-to-day municipal operations, drafts the City’s strategic workplan and annual budget, and implements the Council’s policy and legislative initiatives. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor, referred to as the Presiding Officer in Council agendas, participate in setting Council meeting agendas, preside over the meetings, and represent the City at ceremonial functions and inter-governmental meetings. The Deputy Mayor presides in the Mayor's absence.

City Council’s next meeting is a workshop session set for 6:00 p.m. Monday, January 12.

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Access City Council profiles and more information about Council meetings: https://cityofpt.us/citycouncil