Mayor of White Salmon

Marla Keethler is the current Mayor of the City of White Salmon. Her office is located in the City Hall and she can be reached by mayor@whitesalmonwa.gov or phone 509-774-7491

The Mayor is the elected head of the administrative arm of City government and serves as the City’s chief executive officer. The Mayor is ultimately responsible for implementing City ordinances, setting administrative direction, and overseeing the work of all City staff and departments. This includes direct oversight of City Hall operations and personnel—such as the City Clerk, Finance Director, Land Use Planner, and administrative support staff—as well as overall responsibility for the Public Works Department, with day-to-day field operations managed by the Public Works Director.

Priorities for White Salmon

While the council sets policy, the Mayor serves as the city’s chief administrative officer. Marla sees the administration working for White Salmon by advocating for our community, collaborating with individuals and organizations, leading our city staff and resources, and aligning our vision for the future with the projects that need to happen today. Key areas of focus include:

• Affordable Housing
• Infrastructure and planning for future growth
• Responsible, right-sized development
• Supporting Local Businesses and Downtown Beautification
• Community-focused government services
• Resources/recreation for youth and expanded childcare access

Ask the Mayor

The Mayor has monthly open office hours Please visit this link to schedule a time for an in-person or virtual meeting

Biography

The daughter of an Air Force pilot and a special education teacher, Marla’s years as a military brat began and ended in the Pacific Northwest. A childhood-long fascination with storytelling led her to pursue broadcast journalism as a career. After graduating from Puyallup High School and being named 1998 Washington State High School Journalist of the Year, Marla first headed south from Puyallup, Washington, to Arizona State University for a degree, and then east to New York City for an opportunity in sports television. Manhattan would become home for 16 years, as Marla’s producing career in sports included covering 8 Olympic Games with NBC Sports, earning five Sports Emmy awards, and executive experience leading the first network rebrand of CBS Sports in 35 years.

Marla and her husband shifted gears in 2016, heading west and settling in White Salmon. Their family expanded to include a daughter in 2018 and son in 2020.