Lake Forest Deputy Mayor Dwight Thompson To Run For Mayor of LFP

Lake Forest Park deputy mayor Dwight Thompson will run for mayor of Lake Forest Park in the August 16 primary.

 Thompson and former Lake Forest Park City Councilwoman Mary Jane Goss, have both filed as candidates with the state Public Disclosure Commission. Neither has reported any money raised or spent. 

They are vying to replace Mayor Dave Hutchinson who is not seeking reelection after four terms in office. The mayor's position is part-time and pays $36,000 a year or $3,000 per month.

“Balancing the needs of services within very tight financial constraints and resources is our number one priority.  We must live within our means as a city but preserve the quality of life that is so important to our community. I am looking forward to bringing my executive and administrative experience to serve in a new role as mayor,” Thompson said.

Thompson has served on the city council since 1996.  He has been the deputy mayor for over 10 years.  Thompson represents the Suburban Cities Association on the Executive Committee of the Puget Sound Regional Council, King County Regional Policy Committee and King County Mental Illness and Drug Dependency Oversight Committee as an elected city official.

Thompson emphasized that, “these difficult economic times have placed incredible stress on the city’s ability to maintain our citizen’s desired level and quality services, especially for seniors and youth.  Keeping our seniors in their homes, preserving our environment and keeping our community safe is paramount.  These have been primary goals of mine during my tenure on the Council.  Fiscal accountability and stretching scarce tax resources is what our citizens want from our government.  I am ready to bring a higher level of transparency and responsiveness to the residents of Lake Forest Park.”

 Thompson is a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve with 29 years of military service. He has served his country in two combat deployments. He is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan where he deployed as the Deputy Commander of Task Force MED.  In 1991, he served during Desert Storm with the 50th General Hospital. Currently, he is a dual-status civilian employee of the Army Reserve as the Command Executive Officer for the 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command at Fort Lawton in Seattle.  He manages a command of over 3,500 soldiers and civilians in seven states.

Thompson earned a Bachelors of Arts in Social Welfare and a Master of Social Work Degrees from the University of Washington with a graduate minor in Business Administration.  He is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who is the founder and CEO of Rehabilitation and Evaluation Services, Inc., a statewide vocational rehabilitation services firm for the past 25 years.

Thompson is a former President of the Sheridan Beach Community Association where his family has lived since 1988. He is a Scout Leader for Boy Scout Troop 309 and a USA Swimming National Certified Referee with Cascade Swim Club. Thompson has been active in parent organizations at his children’s schools. He is a long time parishioner of Saint Matthew’s Catholic Church.

Thompson lives with his wife of 34 years, Irene Arden. Their grown children include their son, Captain Dwight C. Thompson, an Iraq War veteran who is currently stationed at Fort Lee, Meredith, an artist and Hilda, who is in her sophomore year of college.