Dixon resigns from Mukilteo City Council

Mike Dixon

In a move that surprised city officials and colleagues, Mukilteo City Councilmember Mike Dixon announced his resignation late Wednesday night, stepping down from the council effective immediately 

Dixon submitted a formal letter of resignation to City Administrator Steve Powers at about 10:30 p.m., followed shortly by a letter to the editor sent to The Mukilteo Beacon.

While the timing appeared abrupt, Dixon said in an interview Thursday that the immediacy was driven by state law, not urgency.

“I think it’s a state law that when you publicly announce, you basically immediately tender,” Dixon said. “When you go public, that is your notice.”

In both letters, Dixon cited increased professional demands and growing family commitments as the primary reasons for his decision. He said those pressures had been building for months.

“I started considering this probably around last fall,” Dixon said. “I really wanted to finish out my term … but it became more and more of a challenge.”

Dixon, who sold his Mukilteo-based small business last year, now works for a national commercial insurance firm based in Seattle. The commute and workload, he said, have made it difficult to balance council responsibilities.

“I leave Mukilteo every morning about 6:30 and get home about 8 o’clock,” he said. “It’s become more and more demanding … and I just had to sit and make a choice and focus on my work, my family, and my life.”

In his letter, Dixon wrote that he is “no longer able to meet the time and attention required for effective council service” and that stepping down was “the most responsible course of action.”

In an interview with The Beacon, he said the timing was also intentional, allowing the council to appoint a replacement before the upcoming budget cycle.

“I thought it would be a good, clean opportunity for somebody to come in … and not shortchange the process,” he said.

Dixon’s resignation creates an immediate vacancy on the seven-member council under state law. The remaining councilmembers now have up to 90 days to appoint a replacement.

Council President Jason Moon said the resignation came as a surprise.

“Yeah, I didn’t see it coming,” Moon said. “I got the email late last night like everyone else.”

Moon described Dixon as an engaged councilmember who contributed to policy discussions, particularly around fiscal issues.

“Mike Dixon brought a lot of great perspectives,” Moon said. “I think that perspective is going to be missed.”

Mayor Joe Marine also said he had not been notified in advance.

“I did not [know],” Marine said. “You would have thought that would have been the first thing.”

During his time on the council, Dixon was known for asking detailed questions and often found himself in the minority on votes. He said that dynamic did not factor into his decision.

“Not at all,” Dixon said. “The nature of politics is that … it’s an honor and a privilege, but it comes with challenges.”

A military veteran, Dixon said he approached public service with a sense of duty, even when disagreements arose.

“The trick they always say in politics is you have to learn to count to four,” he said. “Oftentimes … I only got to count to two.”

Despite that, he said he is proud of the impact he had on council decisions, including work on fiscal policy, development issues in Harbour Heights, and slowing aspects of waterfront planning for further review.

“I look back and I feel very proud of the things that I was able to accomplish,” he said.

In his letter to the editor, Dixon acknowledged the challenges of public service and the scrutiny that comes with it.

“Public service is not always easy,” he wrote. “There are moments when asking hard questions … brings criticism.”

He said encouragement from residents helped sustain him.

“There were many times … I’d get a note from someone in the community saying, ‘Thanks for what you’re doing,’” Dixon said. “That was very encouraging.”

Looking ahead, Dixon said he does not plan to seek elected office again, though he intends to remain engaged in the community.

“You don’t have to be elected to have a voice,” he said. “You just have to have access to the microphone.”

He emphasized that public service, in his view, is less about credentials and more about judgment.

“The only requirement to be a representative of the people is that you be prudent and do a good job,” Dixon said.

The council is expected to formally discuss the vacancy and appointment process in the coming days. The process will likely include an application period, public interviews, and a council vote.

Under state law, if the council does not fill the vacancy within 90 days, the authority shifts to the Snohomish County Council. The appointed councilmember will serve until the next election cycle.

Dixon said he remains confident in the city’s future.

“Mukilteo is a strong city with engaged residents … and a deep sense of civic identity,” he wrote.

Here is his letter to The Beacon: