Rob Wotton, Snoqualmie City Councilmember and vice president of Umpqua Bank, announced Dec. 19 that he is running for the District 3 position on King County Council.

King County’s District 3 represents the Snoqualmie Valley (Snoqualmie, North Bend, Carnation, Duvall, Preston, Fall City) as well as parts of Issaquah, Redmond, Woodinville and the unincorporated land between those communities. District 3 is currently represented by King County Councilmember Sarah Perry, who was elected in Nov. 2021 and whose term ends in 2026.

Wotton has been on the Snoqualmie City Council for two years after being appointed in 2022. He is the chair of the Public Safety Committee. Before serving on council, Wotton served on the Snoqualmie Economic Development Commission for seven years.

In 2018, he founded the SnoValley Innovation Center, which provides business education. Through the center’s free Innovation Friday program, local business leaders serve as mentors to new and aspiring entrepreneurs. The center collaborates with Wotton’s alma mater, Pacific Lutheran University’s School of Business, and the SnoValley Regional Chamber of Commerce.

In 2021, Wotton created the website SnoValley Jobs to help hyperlocal businesses find employees post-pandemic.

“On the city council, I have brought decades of community involvement coupled with real-life business experience,” Wotton said in a news release. “Serving in regional efforts on public safety, transportation and economic development has provided invaluable insight that helps me better understand how local governments can improve efficiency and responsiveness to the diverse needs across our district.”

Aside from business, Wotton supports public safety, affordable housing and infrastructure. According to a news release, he was involved in early efforts to improve State Route 18 infrastructure and recently completed a two-year task force that resulted in new affordable housing units in North Bend and Snoqualmie.

On the Public Safety Committee, Wotton has also led efforts to help Snoqualmie’s independent fire department respond to incidents. In the 2025 budget, the city is adding three full-time professional firefighters/first responders.

“I’m running because I have the experience, know-how and results that will make me a more effective voice representing the real needs of our district,” Wotton said.

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Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Sarah Perry was elected in Nov. 2021.