Longview celebrates longtime mayor

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview held a celebration for longtime mayor, Andy Mack who’s been in leadership for nine years, on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, Mack’s remaining weeks in office are wrapping up with a reflective tone as countless people in the community showed up to share their gratitude. The Longview mayor played an instrumental role in projects to promote economic growth with lasting benefits for the community. The 2018 bond included $52 million for police and fire facilities, $27 million for infrastructure projects and $24 million for park projects.

“It’s been an honor,” Mack said.

First responders and department leaders expressed their gratitude toward Mack and their ability to work together to keep citizens safe.

“This has been a labor of love for me. It’s not a chore, it’s not something I do for any other reason, other than I love Longview and I want to see it grow and develop and continue where we are, the path we’re on is good,” Mack said.

Mack considers his greatest accomplishment was the ability to bring the city of Longview together, especially through the pandemic.

“I think that’s the most important thing we’ve done is how important it is to be together help one another, that’s at #onelongview that I stood by for nine years because I think it’s important for our community,” Mack said.

In a few weeks, Mack will pass the torch to a new mayor, longtime colleague, Kristen Ishihara.

“Andy kind of grew me up and I learned a lot of the way from watching him act and him respond to things, and then also just having the benefit of being able to call him and say, ‘hey, Andy, tell me what you would do in this situation,’” Ishihara said. “He’s been a very, very great mentor and role model for me and very gracious in all of his time and the way that he leads.”

Mack and Ishihara share the same vision for Longview, she said she’ll continue to take the city down the path forged by Mack over the past decade.