Ryan Mello
Ryan N. Mello | |
|---|---|
| Pierce County Executive | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Bruce Dammeier |
| Member of the Pierce County Council from the 4th District | |
| In office January 1, 2021 – January 1, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Connie Ladenburg |
| Succeeded by | Rosie Ayala |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1978 or 1979 (age 46) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Domestic partner | Sean |
| Education | University of Puget Sound (B.A.) |
Ryan Mello is a Democratic politician from Tacoma, Washington, who currently serves as the Pierce County Executive. Mello was elected as County Executive in 2024, and previously served as a member of the County Council and the Tacoma City Council.
Early life
[edit]Mello was born in Kailua, Hawaii, and moved to Washington in 1997 to attend the University of Puget Sound.[1] He served as the President of the Associated Students of the University of Puget Sound, the university's student government association, from 2000 to 2001,[2] and graduated in 2001 with his bachelor of arts degree in politics and government.[1]
After graduation, Mello joined AmeriCorps and worked for the United Way of Pierce County from 2001 to 2003, and worked as a staffer to Democratic State Representative Hans Dunshee.[3]
Political career
[edit]In 2005, Mello ran for a position on the Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma. He defeated incumbent Commissioner Jerry Thorpe,[4] winning 55–44 percent.[5] He became the Pierce County Director of the Cascade Land Conservancy in 2006,[3] and spearheaded an effort to preserve open spaces in the county by purchasing the development rights on family-owned tree farms.[6]
Mello applied for a vacant position on the Tacoma City Council in 2010. He was appointed by the City Council to the Position 7 seat on January 14, 2010.[7] He was elected to a full term in 2011,[8] defeating perennial candidate Will Baker with 74 percent of the vote.[9] He was re-elected in 2015,[10] and barred from seeking another term in 2019 because of term limits.[11]
In 2020, Mello ran for the Pierce County Council from District 4. In the primary election, he placed first, receiving 30 percent of the vote,[12] and advancing to a runoff election with University Place City Councilman Javier Figueroa.[13] Mello defeated Figueroa in a landslide in the general election, receiving 63 percent of the vote.[14]
Pierce County Executive
[edit]Mello announced in 2023 that he would run for Pierce County Executive in 2024 to succeed term-limited Republican incumbent Bruce Dammeier.[15] He was the only Democratic candidate to run, and faced Republican State Representative Kelly Chambers.[16] In the primary election, Mello placed first with 52 percent of the vote,[17] and narrowly defeated Chambers in the general election, winning 51 percent of the vote to her 49 percent.[18]
Personal life
[edit]Mello is openly gay, and came out when attending college at the University of Puget Sound.[19] He and his partner, Sean, live in the Theater District of Tacoma.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Biography". Pierce County, Washington. 2025. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ^ "Past ASUPS Presidents". Associated Students of the University of Puget Sound. 2025. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ^ a b "County Council No. 4 - Ryan Mello". State and Local Online Voters' Guide. Washington Secretary of State. 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ^ Sherman, Kris (November 11, 2005). "Parks bond bound to pass, auditor says". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. p. B1. Retrieved August 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "November 8, 2005 General Election - Official Election Results". Pierce County Auditor. November 29, 2005. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ^ Wickert, David (August 18, 2009). "Preservation comes to county". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. p. A1. Retrieved August 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kamb, Lewis (January 15, 2010). "Council picks Boe, Mello for empty seats". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. p. A1. Retrieved August 5, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kamb, Lewis (November 9, 2011). "Ibsen leading Smitherman in Tacoma City Council race". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. p. A6. Retrieved August 5, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "November 8, 2011 - Summary Report - Pierce County - Final Results Report". Pierce County Auditor. November 28, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ Martin, Kate (November 4, 2015). "Ibsen, Blocker lead competitive races". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. p. A12. Retrieved August 5, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Needles, Allison (May 19, 2019). "Which two new faces will join Tacoma City Council?". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. p. A3. Retrieved August 5, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Final Results - Pierce County, Washington, Primary Election, Aug 04, 2020". Pierce County Auditor. August 18, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ^ Peterson, Josephine (August 23, 2020). "Pierce County races will determine majority party". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. p. A4. Retrieved August 5, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Final Report - Pierce County, Washington, General Election, Nov 03, 2020". Pierce County Auditor. November 23, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ^ "Mello announces campaign for Pierce County Executive". Tacoma Weekly. December 11, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Lotmore, Mario (December 6, 2023). "Competition for statewide offices, Pierce County seats dominate Day 1 of candidate filings". Lynnwood Times. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ^ "August 6, 2024 Primary". Pierce County Auditor. August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ^ "November 5, 2024 General Election". Pierce County Auditor. November 26, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ^ Nagle, Matt (October 17, 2024). "Ryan Mello seeks to be Washington state's first LGBTQ county executive". Seattle Gay News. Retrieved August 4, 2025.