Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus has been elected to the board of Association of Washington Cities (AWC).

Backus was elected at the association’s annual conference in Spokane on June 20-23. She will represent District 13, which is made up of the 16 South King County cities.

“I am honored to be able to serve South King County cities as an AWC board member,” said Backus. “AWC is such a valuable asset to ensure cities like ours have a voice and strong advocacy for our unique needs. It will be challenging work, and I will do my best for my South King County neighbors.”

The AWC board of directors is the association’s governing body. It is composed of 25 directors, 23 of whom are mayors or city council members from Washington cities or towns, and two non-elected city officials who also serve as the president and past president of the Washington City/County Management Association.

Backus has been a member of AWC for years, serving on its Large Cities Advisory Committee, Legislative Priorities Committee, and on the AWC Center for Quality Communities Scholarship Committee. She also earned her Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership from AWC.

Backus is regionally involved, too, serving on the board of Sound Transit, the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, the King County Regional Policy Committee, the Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board, and as a member of South Sound Affordable Housing Partners and chair of South King Housing and Homeless Partners. She previously served as president of the Sound Cities Association board.

“Mayor Backus is a dynamic and influential leader, and we are thrilled to have her join the board of AWC,” said AWC CEO Deanna Dawson. “From housing and homelessness, to transportation, to public safety, Mayor Backus brings a wealth of subject matter expertise to the table. She is also a bridge-builder and knows that we are stronger when we work together. I look forward to partnering with Mayor Backus to achieve great things for our 281 member cities and towns.”

AWC serves its members through advocacy, education and services. Founded in 1933, AWC is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation that represents Washington’s cities and towns before the state Legislature, the state executive branch, and with regulatory agencies. Membership is voluntary. However, AWC consistently maintains 100% participation from Washington’s 281 cities and towns.

AWC also provides training, data and publications, and programs such as the AWC Employee Benefit Trust, AWC Risk Management Service Agency, AWC Workers’ Comp Retro, AWC Drug and Alcohol Consortium, and AWC GIS Consortium.