Getting Jobs Done Right

New mayor Emily McFadden looks to lead Eatonville forward

By Rick Stedman

Longtime Eatonville resident Emily McFadden officially took over duties as town mayor on Jan. 1. Emily, who will serve a four-year term, is Eatonville’s 26th mayor and the first woman to hold this nonpartisan position.

Many throughout town are excited that Emily will be their mayor for the next four years. Emily’s mother, Christine Blackett, who lives in Longview, beams with pride.

“I am so proud of her accomplishments,” Christine says. “I am also very happy for the town of Eatonville to have Emily serving as their mayor.”

Many in town already know Emily. She has lived in the greater Eatonville area most of her life, and now does so with her husband, Dennis, and their three daughters: Mallory, Mackenzie and Roxy. She is excited to serve the city as mayor.

“One of the things I am looking forward to the most is working with the staff,” Emily says. “They are the ones who truly make things run smoothly in town, and I am honored to get the opportunity to tackle all of the projects that cross my desk with them.”

Crystal Waltz, a longtime Eatonville resident and friend of the new mayor since childhood, says becoming mayor feels like a natural extension of Emily’s deep-rooted commitment to the community.

“I’ve watched her grow from a spirited child into a passionate leader, dedicated to the very essence of Eatonville, where she was born and raised,” Crystal says. “As the proud owner of the iconic Gypsy Wagon Coffee Shop, Emily has fostered connections with countless residents, always prioritizing the needs and well-being of our community. Her love for the people of Eatonville shines brightly in everything she does, and her vision is clear: to ensure that Eatonville remains a safe and prosperous place for all its citizens. With her unwavering dedication and heartfelt connection to our town, I have no doubt that Emily will lead us into a bright and promising future.”

Service to the Town

As owner of Gypsy Wagon Coffee Shop, Emily has served many beverages to the public over the past few decades. Even before her new role as mayor, she served the town as a Town Council member since April 2019.

At the time, she had been attending meetings and learning how the town was run. When Council Position 5 became vacant, Emily applied.

“The council at the time appointed me to the position, and later that year, I ran for that same post and was elected to a four-year term,” Emily says. “I ran again for that position in 2024, and was reelected.”

To transition to the position of mayor, Emily submitted a resignation, vacating her council seat effective Dec. 31, 2025.

During Emily’s time on Town Council, she served on numerous subcommittees, including finance and legislative; airport; public utilities; public safety; parks and recreation; and Lodging Tax Advisory.

“I also served as the town representative at the Pierce County Regional Committee and attended several trainings provided by the Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington, and Association of Washington Cities as I work towards my Certificate of Municipal Leadership, which I am close to obtaining,” she says.

Mayoral Priorities

Emily explains that while it is the Town Council’s job to ensure the right tasks get completed, it’s the mayor’s duty to make sure those jobs get done right. She is also in charge of staffing and executing contracts.

“Another one of my roles as mayor will be to advocate to other elected officials, such as our legislators, to fight to obtain necessary funding for our town, whenever possible,” she says.

Priorities include working on several large utility projects, such as building a secondary power feed and updating the storm water system. Work on the water system includes replacing aging water mains to reduce water loss.

“Keeping our streets in good condition is an ongoing project for all administrations,” Emily says. “This will be no different under my watch.”

Because Emily is also a small business owner, she says she will work to avoid conflicts of interest and always prioritize the city’s best interests.

“I will keep a clear and ethical separation between the two,” she says. “Anything that comes up that could become a conflict or be perceived as one, I will disclose and recuse myself when appropriate. I will only use town resources for official mayoral duties. My priority will always be to serve my community with transparency, integrity and accountability.”