To: City Clerk
City Council
From: Pam Pruitt
Date: August 24, 2020
Re: Resignation
It is with conflicting emotions, that I write to inform you of my resignation from the Mill Creek City
Council effective Monday, August 24, 2020.
It has been a privilege and honor to serve the residents and businesses of Mill Creek since the mid1980s both as an activist and later as an elected official. When I first ran for office in 1987, it was
because I wanted to make life better for everyone in Mill Creek. That has never changed. My love of
our City has never wavered.
What has changed is my age and what I want to accomplish in my last years. When I left my
employment in Snohomish County last December, it was to volunteer to help people who cannot help
themselves. With the pandemic, there are even more people who need help. It’s in my DNA. It’s what I
need to do.
While many think the role of Mayor is purely ceremonial, the reality is to do the job well, requires
countless hours each week preparing for City Council meetings, attending meetings with other elected
officials throughout Snohomish County, seeking funding for City capital projects, and responding to
constituent concerns.
As I move on to embrace true retirement, I leave the Mill Creek City Council proud of the
accomplishments I was privileged to be a part of:
In 1992, I flew to Washington D.C. to request our Post Office be built. Previous councilmembers
secured the land. For those who were not here then, we had to drive to the Bothell Post Office to pick
up any packages. Of course, everyone said this was an impossible task. To me, ‘No” is just the
starting point in any negotiation. Our Post Office was built the following year.
Most people are aware that I was able to work with Senator Steve Hobbs to raise over $6,000,000 for
the 35th Ave project.. Again, it was an impossible ask but Mill Creek is always worth the fight.
Working successfully on the SERS radio proposal, law enforcement and fire agencies throughout the
County will now save millions of dollars on radio communications.
Thank you to the City Council for supporting me these past five years while I served as Mayor. Thank
you to the residents for allowing me to serve for nearly 15 years on the City Council including my five
terms as Mayor.
Recently retired Brier Mayor Bob Colinas advised me to take time and smell the roses. Trite but true.
I’ve missed spending time with my friends and family. I’ve had all the right excuses: I’m busy, I have a
conflict, etc. That’s over. I’m going to focus on friends, family and helping those in need. I may even
buy a rose bush.