Sammamish City Council to Have two Vacancies, as Councilman Mark Cross Says he Will not Seek a Third Term

Sammamish City Councilman Mark Cross announced Sunday that he will not seek a third term, saying that he wants to devote more time to his family and his new full-time utilities management job with the city of Bellevue.

Cross has served on the City Council for eight years and announced his decision in a statement. The seven-person City Council now has two vacancies, which voters must fill during this November’s elections.

Councilwoman Michele Petitti in early April that she will step down from her office.

"I'm really proud of Sammamish and what we've accomplished," Cross said in a phone interview. "I am going to miss all the people on the Council. I won't miss the late nights."

In his statement, he also thanked residents for voting for him and city staff for their help over the years.

Mayor Don Gerend recalled that Cross has been involved with city issues even before joining the City Council. Cross, Gerend said, would attend city meetings around 1999 and 2000 to discuss transportation issues.

"Being a professional in city government, he was most helpful in the new stages of the city," Gerend said Sunday.

"I've always had a great respect for him. We'll miss him but I understand what he says about the job. It's the same thing with Michele. I would not want to deal with a full-time job and Council. It's a tough agenda."

In his full-time job with the city of Bellevue, Cross will be the permit project manager for the utilities capital improvement plan. "I am going to have more responsibility for permitting water, storm and sewer construction projects," he said in a statement.

In 2003, Sammamish residents elected him to office. He served his first term from 2004 to 2007. In 2006, he served as deputy mayor. The next year, he was mayor. He is serving his second term, which began in 2008.

One key reason why he ran for the City Council was to make sure the could be completed and transformed from an abandoned rail line. "The completion of that trail as a walking and bicycle path is the legacy I am most proud of," he said in his statement.

He acknowledged that some lakefront homeowners opposed the trail's creation.

He also is proud that the city was able to open the new and the complex, as well as offer modern sports fields at and . Another policy accomplishment, he added, was the opening of .

He feels that the city's park system has accomplished much and that more parks will open in the city this year. While the issue of "connectivity," especially in terms of from city streets, has been controversial, Cross said he will not miss those votes.

"They are important but they are tough decisions," he said.

"During my tenure, the city adopted really strong transportation and park impact fee ordinances and successfully lobbied for changes in how the state distributes sales tax to the cities," Cross added in his statement.

The city's Town Center, he noted, has been given a "great launch" and will provide residents with more living, shopping, recreation and social opportunities. 

Gerend appreciated that Cross made his decision public this month because it gives potential candidates time to prepare, organize a campaign and raise money.

Cross is married to Pam Mauk, executive director of the Together Center. That group specializes in human services. Their daughter attends Western Washington University. Their son is a student at Eastlake High School.

In addition to devoting time to his family and full-time job, Cross said he is looking forward to playing more music with his band. He plays guitar.