EDITOR’S NOTE: This post has been revised with an update to the process to replace a vacancy in nonpartisan offices.
Burien City Councilmember Linda Akey announced that she is planning to resign from office because her husband has accepted a job out of state and the couple plans to relocate, according to a resignation letter.
Akey – who has served in council Position No. 2 since 2024 and whose seat is up in 2027 – said she will continue serving until their townhome sells, and she will provide her last day once she knows the closing date.
“Until that time, I will continue to serve Burien as your councilmember,” Akey wrote.
In her letter, Akey called Burien “a special place” and said she and her husband “have happily made this community our home” for the past seven years. She wrote that they “even got married at Marlaina’s Mediterranean Kitchen,” which she said gave them “strong emotional ties to Burien.”
Akey said she joined the Burien Business and Economic Development Partnership (BEDP) and the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce as part of her community service, and that those experiences gave her insight into Burien’s small business community.
“In 2023, community members encouraged me to run for City Council,” Akey wrote, calling the role “an honor of a lifetime.” She said she worked to understand issues “from all sides,” listened to community members and made decisions she believed were in the best interest of “a safe and livable community.”
Akey also wrote about efforts to foster a more collaborative environment, saying she attended the Association of Washington Cities’ Washington Collaborative for Elected Leaders Institute with Councilmembers Andrade and Moore.
“While this work is still in its early stages, I remain hopeful that future councils will continue building spaces where every voice can be heard and difficult issues can be discussed constructively and respectfully,” she wrote.
Akey said she is proud of what she called the 2024 to 2025 council’s accomplishments, pointing to “strong leadership” from former Mayor and councilmember Kevin Schilling, City Manager Adolfo Bailon and city staff, along with what she described as a shared commitment to improving safety and livability.
“Although this decision is bittersweet, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve,” Akey wrote.
Process to Replace
Under Washington state law, when a vacancy occurs on a nonpartisan governing board of a special purpose district, the remaining board members must first nominate at least one candidate and publicly post notice of the vacancy for at least 15 days, during which residents of the district may also submit nominations. After that notice period, the board must appoint a qualified person from the list of nominees at a public meeting. If the board does not fill the vacancy within 90 days, the authority to appoint shifts to the county legislative authority, and if the county also fails to act within 180 days, the governor may make the appointment. Any appointee serves until the next regular election for that position, when voters elect someone to complete the remainder of the term, as outlined in RCW 42.12.080.
Resignation Letter
Here’s full text of Akey’s resignation letter:
“Today I am announcing that my husband has accepted a position out of state, and we will be relocating. I will join him once our townhome has sold. Until that time, I will continue to serve Burien as your councilmember. I will provide my last day once I know the closing date of our home.
“Burien is a special place. Over the past seven years, my husband and I have happily made this community our home. We have enjoyed the small shops, the wonderful restaurants and business owners, the many community events, and—most importantly—the lifelong friends we have made. We even got married at Marlaina’s Mediterranean Kitchen so we have strong emotional ties to Burien.
“Community service has always been important to me and joining the Burien Business and Economic Development Partnership (BEDP) and Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce was a meaningful part of that journey. Those experiences gave me valuable insight into Burien’s thriving smallbusiness community, which truly fuels the vibrancy of our city.
“In 2023, community members encouraged me to run for City Council. Serving in this role has been an honor of a lifetime. I worked hard to understand the issues from all sides, listened to community members, and made decisions I believed were in the best interest of a safe and livable community.
“One of my goals was to help foster a more collaborative environment. Along with Councilmembers Andrade and Moore, I attended the Association of Washington Cities’ first Washington Collaborative for Elected Leaders Institute (WACELI) to explore ways to bring people together in healthy and meaningful conversations. While this work is still in its early stages, I remain hopeful that future councils will continue building spaces where every voice can be heard and difficult issues can be discussed constructively and respectfully.
“I am proud of what the 2024–2025 Council accomplished. Through strong leadership from former Mayor/councilmember Schilling, city manager Bailon and staff, and a shared commitment to improving safety and livability, we made meaningful progress for all of Burien. I hope the new council majority will continue to demonstrate leadership that respects and serves everyone who calls Burien home.
“Although this decision is bittersweet, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve. Thank you to everyone who welcomed my husband and me with open arms. We will carry the memories we created here with us for the rest of our lives.”
Burien’s city governance is looking better and better every day. Hopefully Akey’s replacement actually cares about the working class.
Now please fire Adolfo Bailon.
good riddance
WOW tell us how you really feel and see if you still feel the same a few months down the road