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Josh Amato elected mayor, Debbie Treen chosen deputy mayor at Sammamish council reorganization
Summary
After nominations and balloting at the Jan. 6 meeting, council member Josh Amato was elected mayor in a second-round vote (5–2) and Council member Deborah Joan Treen was elected deputy mayor after nominations and voice vote.
The Sammamish City Council reorganized leadership at its first regular meeting of 2026, electing Josh Amato as mayor and Deborah Joan Treen as deputy mayor.
Mayor (presiding) opened nominations for mayor and nominated Council member Pamela Stewart; Council member Kentreen nominated Josh Amato. The first ballot for Stewart failed (staff recorded 3 in favor and 4 opposed). On the second ballot, Josh Amato was elected mayor with a recorded 5–2 vote. Amato thanked the council: "Thank you, everybody, and I appreciate some grace as I go through my first meeting here," he said after the election.
Mayor Amato then opened nominations for deputy mayor. Rosheen O'Farrell and Council member Debbie Treen were nominated; the council voted and elected Debbie Treen as deputy mayor by voice vote. The mayor then led the meeting for the remainder of the agenda.
What happens next: Mayor Amato will preside over council meetings for a one-year term; the deputy mayor term was announced as one year during the meeting.
