Mike Park, a Federal Way City Council member for 16 years, announced today he will not seek re-election.

Park, 64, has been a City Council member since June 1995. He has served as the city’s council-appointed mayor twice.

“Working on behalf of Federal Way’s citizens for 16 years has been a rewarding and enriching experience,” Park said in a statement today. “It’s time for a fresh new face and perspective on the City Council.”

Park served as Federal Way’s mayor from 2000 to 2001, making him the first Korean American mayor in the state. His council peers elected him mayor …

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Rep. Skip Priest was leading Jim Ferrell in the race to become Federal Way’s first elected mayor.

But neither Priest nor Ferrell said the race is over.

“I think it’s a very good start,” said Priest, R-Federal Way. “I think we should have a fairly good idea by (Wednesday).”

Ferrell didn’t concede but pledged to support Priest.

“Skip is a tremendously well-known figure in Federal Way,” said Ferrell, a Federal Way City Council member since 2004. “He’s done a great amount of work in the community. I think the vote reflects that.”

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It might as well be Aug. 18 once again.

Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, was narrowly leading Republican challenger Tony Moore tonight in a tight race that mirrored results of the August primary.

Eide, a commercial landlord, has been a state senator since 1999. She supported key budget and tax bills in the Legislature, including suspension of voter-approved Initiative 960. Those steps preserved education, health care and emergency assistance, she said.

Moore, a small business owner from Federal Way and president of the Federal Way School Board, said the state has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. He said …

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Rep. Skip Priest was leading Jim Ferrell tonight in the race to become Federal Way’s first elected mayor, according to King County Elections returns.

The winner will lead the state’s ninth-largest city, population 88,760. The job pays an annual salary of $112,800.

During the campaign, Ferrell and Priest wrangled over who has the leadership and experience Federal Way needs.

Ferrell, 44, led the campaign to switch to a strong, elected mayor, which voters approved last year. He has been a City Council member since 2004. He supervises the domestic violence court unit for the King County Prosecutor’s Office.

Priest, R-Federal …

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