Elections will be held in November for the following positions:

• Councilmember Position 4 (currently held by Mary Barber)
• Councilmember Position 5 (currently held by Julie Martin)
• Councilmember Position 6 (currently held by Le Rodenberg)

Candidates must be a registered voter in the City of Gig Harbor and must have lived within city limits for at least one year prior to election day on November 9, 2023.

Filing with both the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) and Pierce County are required steps in any candidacy. Candidates must file with Pierce County during the week of May 15-19. While this is a required official step in the electoral process, candidates may declare their intent to run for office prior to filing with Pierce County. By publicly stating an intent to run for office or accepting campaign contributions, a candidate may trigger the official start of their campaign. Once a campaign has begun, candidates have two weeks to file with the PDC (see links below).

The following information has been collected to provide prospective candidates with information about the duties and expectations that come with elected office in Gig Harbor. For more information, please contact City Clerk Josh Stecker.

Pierce County Elections:

• Information for Candidates - Filing for Office in 2023
• 2023 Election Guide for Candidates

Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC):

• Running for Office? Thinking About It...
• Roles and Responsibilities of Local Government Leaders
• Getting into Office: Being Elected or Appointed into Office in Washington Counties, Cities, Towns, and Special Districts
• Local Government Policy-Making Process
• The Open Public Meetings Act - How it Applies to Washington Cities, Counties, and Special Purpose Districts 
• Code City Handbook

Association of Washington Cities (AWC):

• So you want to be an elected official... Practical information for people running for office in Washington’s cities and towns
• Mayor & Councilmember Handbook
• What is a City? An overview of Washington cities’ functions and services
• Elected Officials Essentials Workshop
• Suggestions for Successful Public Service: 53 Ideas on How You can Govern Better
• Small City Resource Manual
• Certificate of Municipal Leadership

Public Disclosure Commission (PDC):

• New Candidate FAQs
• Campaign Online Filing

City of Gig Harbor:

• 2023-24 Budget
• City Council Guidelines and Procedures
• City Council Meetings Minutes & Recordings
• Gig Harbor Municipal Code
• Gig Harbor Ordinances & Resolutions
• Gig Harbor Comprehensive Plan

Other Recommended Resources:

• State Auditor’s Office Center for Government Innovation – Provides training and technical assistance to local governments in Washington to improve performance, efficiency, and effectiveness
• National League of Cities – Advocates on behalf of cities at the federal level and provides training and research
• Governing Institute: Guide to Financial Literacy – Information on how to connect money, policy, and priorities