Anacortes council confirms Mannix McDonald as fire chief after divided debate

The Anacortes City Council confirmed Mannix McDonald as the city’s next fire chief in a 4–2 roll-call vote after public comment and extended deliberations.

Councilmember Hunt moved to confirm McDonald and authorize the mayor to sign the employment contract; the motion passed with Hunt, Young, Cleland McGrath and Moulton voting yes and Currier and Fantini voting no. The council’s vote followed an executive session under RCW 42.31.110(1)(g) to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment and a lengthy public-comment period in which both supporters and critics addressed the council.

Supporters included current and former firefighters and community members who described McDonald’s leadership of the department and improvements to EMS services. “Chief McDonald has served this community as the assistant chief honorably and will continue to serve at the highest level,” said Dean Shelton, a former fire chief and labor representative who testified the candidate “is probably one of the most qualified” the department has seen. Multiple firefighters and residents at the podium urged the council to confirm based on McDonald’s record and endorsements from department leadership.

Opponents and some council members pointed to a 2018 Bellingham-file incident and to a social-media video that resurfaced in advance of the meeting, seeking more time for review and additional vetting. “I would like a little more time to be able to find out if the things that you just told me upstairs in that room are true,” Councilmember Fantini said during deliberations, adding he wanted to consult outside experts before casting his vote.

HR Director Kendall Moyle told the council the city conducted a competitive recruitment that included external recruitment, candidate screening and a final panel interview including local fire-service representatives, department heads and elected officials. Moyle said McDonald had 28 years of fire-service experience, had been assistant chief since 2022 and interim chief since April, and had the endorsement of IAFF Local 1537.

After the vote, Mayor Walters said she had independently reviewed the Bellingham materials and expressed confidence in McDonald’s ability to lead the department. Councilmembers who voted against the confirmation said their decision reflected specific concerns they felt deserved more time to examine, not a blanket assessment of McDonald’s professional competence.

The council instructed staff to proceed with hiring an assistant chief and other department staffing steps; McDonald’s employment contract was authorized for signature. The council adjourned following brief closing remarks.