Federal Way council removes Martin Moore as council president after debate over student walkout support; Susan Honda elected 4–3

The Federal Way City Council voted 4–3 on Feb. 10 to rescind its earlier vote naming Martin Moore council president, concluding a heated special meeting that followed large public turnout and extensive testimony from students, educators and residents.

Councilmember Kochmar moved to rescind Moore’s appointment, saying the council presidency is an administrative, nonpartisan role and expressing concern that Moore had repeatedly used the council president platform rather than personal channels to advance political causes. “The council president position is as an administrator. It is not to take political stances,” Kochmar said during debate.

Supporters of Moore — including dozens of students and community members who filled the council chamber and joined remotely — told the council the post and Moore’s interaction with students were acts of civic support, not organization. Student speakers and residents said the walkout was student-led and that Moore’s sharing of a flyer was limited to amplifying their right to peaceful assembly. Natalia Alvarado, a student, told the council, “Council president Moore never encouraged us to do so … the movement was strictly student and community led.”

Moore defended his actions at the meeting. “I played no role in the planning, coordination or organization of this protest,” he said, recounting that he attended an after‑school club meeting at the students’ invitation, agreed to share a flyer and later hid the post amid heated public commentary and alerted the city attorney. “Any communication I had with students was transparent and known to the club advisor,” Moore said.

Councilmembers who supported rescission emphasized a pattern they said predated the Facebook post, including repeated blurred lines between Moore’s roles on outside boards and council responsibilities. Councilmember Hamilton summarized that the council president had “repeatedly used the council president platform rather than his personal or campaign channels to advance personal and political causes,” and argued that the position should be a neutral facilitator.

After discussion, the council voted: Ayes — Kochmar, Honda, Hamilton and Walsh; Nays — Moore, Sessoms and Asafa Dawson. Heather (the clerk) announced that the motion passed 4–3, and the mayor declared Moore removed from the council presidency.

The council immediately opened nominations for a new council president. Councilmember Kochmar nominated Susan Honda; Asafa Dawson initially was nominated but declined. After a voice vote, Honda was elected by the same 4–3 split and sworn in at the dais.

The meeting featured persistent and sometimes emotional debate. Students, teachers and clergy spoke about fear of federal immigration enforcement and described local incidents they said demonstrated a need for leaders to listen. Other speakers warned against mixing official duties with partisan advocacy and raised concerns about professional boundaries and liability when elected officials engage with minors outside school settings.

The mayor said he would sponsor a community forum on immigration enforcement to provide a wider opportunity for public discussion. The meeting adjourned shortly after the oath of office.

Votes at a glance: the council passed the motion to rescind Moore as council president (4–3); it then elected Susan Honda as council president by the same margin. The special meeting had been called under Washington’s open‑meetings statute and included both in‑person and remote public comment.