FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 2, 2025

Mark Hodgson Announces Candidacy for Port Angeles City Council

On Wednesday, April 2nd, Mark Hodgson announced his candidacy for the Port Angeles City Council. Mark has a passion for public service that began in the armed forces, continued with a career in law enforcement, and led him to volunteer with community non-profits and local government advisory boards including the City of Port Angeles Parks Commission. 

Additionally, in November, Mark was elected to the Charter Review Commission, a yearlong position whose term ends in December, 2025. “I will bring my knowledge and experience to our City Council to ensure public safety is supported, affordable housing policies are prioritized, and economic development is at the forefront of strategic planning,” Hodgson said.

Mark was raised in Port Angeles. Along with his brother and sister, Mark attended Port Angeles schools. A father of two, Hodgson is also proud to have raised his own children here on the Olympic Peninsula. Mark understands the challenges and successes current residents face. “Like many families today, my family struggled to find affordable housing. Much of my childhood was spent moving from one rental property to another. It wasn’t until my parents qualified for a first-time homeowner’s program that we could finally settle into a place of our own,” said Hodgson. “Homeownership changed the trajectory of my family’s life by giving us a safe and stable place to go after school, to grow up and to prepare for adulthood. 30 years later, families in our city are still struggling to find affordable housing, preventing them from achieving a key driver of household wealth and economic stability,” Hodgson continued.

After high school, Mark had a successful enlistment in the US Navy, continuing a long family tradition of service to the nation. Mark’s parents both served in the Marine Corps, his grandfather served in the Army Air Corps, and Mark’s son recently completed his enlistment in the US Air Force. “’Service before self’ is a motto I have lived by and taught to my children as a guiding principle. Something I learned while serving in the Navy’s elite Special Boat Teams was that you never quit; you never quit on your teammates, and you never quit on your mission. Our motto was: on time, on target, NEVER QUIT!” Hodgson continued.

Mark hopes to bring these values to his campaign. “Service was central to my decision to run for City Council. Our communities are facing uncertainty like never before. In times like these, we need people who care deeply about our community to stand up and make sure we have a safe place to live, good-paying jobs, and opportunities to thrive. As your next City Councilmember, I will apply that motto to show up for our community as difficult decisions are made, keeping our focus on issues of local importance, and never backing down from doing what is right.”

Hodgson says, “Our city is one of the best places to live in Washington State, and I am excited to announce my candidacy for Port Angeles City Council to continue my passion for public service and help make our community even better!”

Port Angeles City Councilmember Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin, who serves in Position 3, one of the four positions up for election this year, said he will not be seeking re-election. He said, “Mark grew up here. He serves our community on the boards of Habitat for Humanity and the Peninsula Dispute Resolution Center. He is a father, veteran, law enforcement officer, and one of the most compassionate and thoughtful people I know. Mark will represent a city that works for the health, safety, and welfare of all our residents, rather than just well-heeled special interests that want to make our city unaffordable for working families and our elders.”
Mark Hodgson’s campaign website is MarkHodgson.org.

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