Renee Maher has announced that she is running for the open City Council seat that will be vacated by current Councilman Dean McColgan.

Maher ran for State Senate last year which she describes as "one of the best experiences of my life." When the campaign was over, Maher said that she was approached by people from all over the community asking her to consider running for the Federal Way City Council. "I had parents from all over the City asking me to continue my advocacy for education at the City Council level." At first Maher wasn't sure that she could make an impact on education at the City Council level. But, she said, she also was encouraged by many of the educational leaders in the community to run.

"Quality of life is very important to the people of Federal Way. When people move to our community, they want to know that their children will go to good schools, and they want to know that they are going to be safe when they leave their homes." Maher said.

Maher also said that economic development will be another strong priority.

"I have heard from many of our local businesses that our City isn't 'business friendly.' I intend to change that. I want to make sure that our local economy is thriving and people want to bring their businesses here. Our schools and our businesses are the backbone of this community!"

"I think the City Council really could use an advocate for education, law enforcement, and business. I want to create partnerships with the City and the Federal Way School District to maximize our resources everywhere we possibly can," Maher said. "Plus, I am a former deputy prosecutor and no one will ever say that I am soft on crime!"

Maher is well-known in Federal Way for the work her husband, Patrick Maher, did as a Federal Way police officer before he was killed in the line of duty on August 2, 2003.

Since her husband's death three and half years ago, Maher has been active with a variety of civic and charitable causes, including being a full-time single Mom to her eight year old son, Nicholas. She started a charitable trust fund affectionately named the Patrick Maher Memorial Foundation, which donates money to local non-profit organizations, such as Fusions and the Federal Way Education & Communities in Schools Foundation through the Chamber of Commerce.

In June 2005, she was selected as one of five nationwide honorees for the State Farms Embrace Life Award because of her positive attitude and willingness to embrace life after the death of her husband.

Maher was also recently nominated as one of Ten Outstanding Young Americans, a national award given through the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Maher lives with her son near the King County Aquatic Center in the same house she and Patrick bought before his death. Contact Renee Maher at 253-334-1735 or ReneeMaher@aol.com.