Council Member Linda 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.”
