LYNNWOOD—Lynnwood City Council President George Hurst shared with fellow colleagues on Tuesday, May 7, that beloved Councilwoman Shirley Sutton resigned from the council, effective immediately.
“It is with great sadness, but with also great understanding, that I want to let you know that effective immediately Shirley Sutton has resigned her position on the Lynnwood City Council,” Hurst wrote. “We all know that Shirley has served this Council, this City and our region for many years with distinction and with the heart of a servant.”
Sutton served on the Lynnwood City Council from 2015-19, and from 2022 to present. A 20-year resident of Lynnwood, she was a transplant from Yakima. Councilwoman Sutton earned her MA in education/law and justice and worked as a director of homeless programs in Yakima schools and served eight years on the Governor’s Homeless Commission.
In 2020, she was the recipient of the Lift Every Voice Legacy Beloved Community Award for a generation of public service to her community and in 2019 she received the Carl Gipson Lifetime Achievement Award. Janice Greene, President of the NAACP of Snohomish County, presented the Roots Award to Sutton in 2023 at the Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee’s Red and White Banquet.
The council will now begin the process of filling the vacancy.
“We can discuss the process for selecting a replacement at our next Council meeting but for now I think my thoughts are all about what a great friend Shirley has been over the years, and what a great leader she has been,” President Hurst shared.
One Response
Thank you Ms Sutton for your tireless service to our city! I love that you always held your citizens and our wishes as your job 1. Your sudden resignation is concerning but I wish you nothing but the best as you return to citizen only status. Lord’s blessings. I’m a 37 year resident.