Mayor, Travis Waldher
Get in Touch with Mayor Waldher
Mayor@TownOfWilkeson.com
Cell- 360-601-0748
Office- 360-829-0790
540 Church St, Wilkeson WA 98396
Duties of the Mayor
The Wilkeson mayor oversees the day to day operations and staff. They ensure public services are efficiently delivered to meet the community's needs. They preside over Town council meetings and help shape and execute the council-approved budget. Mayors in this governance structure do not have veto powers, but they do have the ability to cast a tie-breaking vote in certain situations.
Mayors of Wilkeson
As written on the Historylink.org website: In the spring of 1909, the people of Wilkeson initiated a campaign to incorporate a local municipal government. Growth had created new problems, and area residents resented paying a total of some $5,000 a year in taxes to Pierce County while local concerns went unaddressed. In May, 111 citizens signed a petition asking county commissioners for an election. Their request was granted and, on July 14, The Tacoma Times reported that the people of "Wilkeson, Hope and Briar Hill voted to incorporate as the city of Wilkeson" by the resounding vote of 71 to 6 ("Wilkeson Is Incorporated"). The voters also chose T. M. Edwards, the owner of a downtown shoe store, as the first mayor. Residents celebrated as the incorporation took effect, and the Town of Wilkeson came into existence, on July 18, 1909.
In 116 years time the Town of Wilkeson has been led by 21 Mayors below are stories and profiles of each to hold position of the Mayor of Wilkeson.
T.M. Edwards
1909-1912
The Tacoma Times reported that the people of "Wilkeson, Hope and Briar Hill voted to incorporate as the city of Wilkeson" by the resounding vote of 71 to 6 ("Wilkeson Is Incorporated"). The voters also chose T. M. Edwards, the owner of a downtown shoe store, as the first mayor.
August Abraham 1921-1923
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H.R.E Nelson 1942-1960
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H.E. Rude Nelson Park, dedicated to the service of Mayor Nelson a pocket park on the corner of Hill & Church Street
Gino Fabiani 1973-1977
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Gino Fabiani 1983-1989
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Doug Paulsen 2002-2005
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Robert "Bob" Walker 2014-2017
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Joseph McCasky 1913-1916
Friday, May 26, 1916—Superior Judge Easterday last Tuesday sentenced Mayor Joseph McCaskey of Wilkeson $100 and costs of the trial and ten days in the county jail, he having been convicted of selling intoxicating liquors at his drug store in Wilkeson.
Ellis Roberts 1923-1937
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Martin Thawsh 1960-1971
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Rosemarie "Cookie" Howard 1978-1982
Wilkeson's first female mayor!
Richard "Dick" Sellers 1990-1997
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Janet E. Kepka 2006-2009
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Jeff Sellers 2018-2025
Mayor Sellers was extremely effective in his 2 terms as Mayor. Under his leadership and guideance, the town secured nearly 8 million dollars in outside funding. This funding included sidewalk/ road/ parking improvements, park expansions/ development, infrastructure rehab and multiple emergency preparedness improvement projects.
Ellis Roberts
1917-1920
Ellis William Roberts was born on 21 January 1859, in Penarth, Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom. Employed as a coal miner in the Wilkeson. Died on 26 March 1938, in Wilkeson, Pierce, Washington, United States, at the age of 79, and was buried in Wilkeson, Washington.
Max Wehr 1937-1942
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George Hreha 1971-1973
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Scott Barclay 1982-1983
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Paula Perry 1998-2001
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Donna Hogerhuis 2010-2013
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Jayme Peloli
Jan- June 2026
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