It's great to meet you!
I'm Nigel Herbig, your current Mayor and Councilmember, and it has been an honor to serve the residents of Kenmore. My journey here began when my wife, Tiffany, and I moved to Kenmore to raise our daughter, drawn by its spirit, setting, and potential. I grew up nearby, in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood, where I graduated from Ingraham High School and earned my degree in Political Science and Comparative Religion from the University of Washington.
My Commitment to Kenmore
I started attending Kenmore City Council meetings after the new City Hall was built. I lived nearby, and wanted to see what my government was doing. I was shocked to learn that the Council wasn't livestreaming its meetings so more residents could know what was being decided about their city. I took it upon myself to begin attending regularly, and started livetweeting the meetings under the Twitter account "@kenmorepolitics". I got a small following of people who wanted to know what was going on but couldn't make it to City Hall on a Monday night. Watching these meetings, it became apparent to me that the Council was not representative of most Kenmore residents, and when Deputy Mayor Bob Hensel told me he was retiring and asked me to run for his seat, I took him up on the challenge. I have proudly served on the Kenmore City Council since 2014, and was selected by my Council colleagues to serve as Deputy Mayor from 2018-2021, and as Mayor since 2022.
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I've always been driven by public service. My professional background includes work in broadcasting, fundraising, politics, and government. I've worked for environmental and labor groups, and at every level of government, most recently in the area of homelessness. I spent almost a decade working in the State Legislature where I helped pass important bills like the 2017 distracted driver law.
On Council I have represented Kenmore on regional boards like the SeaShore Transportation Forum, the Eastside Transportation Partnership and the Sound Transit 522 Bus Rapid Transit Elected Leaders Group. I also serve on the King County Affordable Housing Committee, and the Sound Cities Association Board where I work to make sure smaller cities like Kenmore aren't left out of conversations and decisions that directly impact us.
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These roles have equipped me with a deep understanding of regional issues and how to effectively advocate for our city.
Our Progress Together
As Mayor, I'm incredibly proud of what we've accomplished.
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During my time on Council, Kenmore has taken huge steps - we passed the Walkways and Waterways bond measure which built over 3 miles of sidewalks and bike lanes, improved Log Boom and Rhododendron Parks, and the fantastic improvements at ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis (Tl' awh-ah-dees) Park. We built The Hangar and Town Square, as well as a desperately-needed new bridge over the Sammamish River.
We've also responded thoughtfully to challenges, providing direct cash assistance to low-income residents and small businesses during the pandemic, and taking action on critical issues like climate change and systemic racism. This has led to the adoption of our Climate Action Plan and the formation of a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility taskforce, reflecting our shared values for a more just and sustainable Kenmore.
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I believe in building a Kenmore that is vibrant, inclusive, and forward-thinking. I'm excited about the future and humbly ask for your continued support as we work to make Kenmore an even better place to live, work, and thrive.
What's on your mind?
Meeting with Kenmore residents has always been important to me, and is a highlight of my time in office. I'd love to hear about what matters to you!
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