Renton City Councilmember Kim-Khánh Văn earns Certificate of Municipal Leadership

The leadership certificate comes from the Association of Washington Cities.

By Cameron Sheppard • December 13, 2022 3:10 pm
Mayor Armondo Pavone presents City Councilmember Kim Kim-Khánh Văn with her Certificate of Municipal Leadership at Monday night’s council meeting. Councilmembers James Alberson, Jr., Ruth Pérez, Valerie O’Halloran, Ryan McIrvin, Ed Prince, and Carmen Rivera join them for the presentation. (Courtesy of City of Renton)
Mayor Armondo Pavone presents City Councilmember Kim Kim-Khánh Văn with her Certificate of Municipal Leadership at Monday night’s council meeting. Councilmembers James Alberson, Jr., Ruth Pérez, Valerie O’Halloran, Ryan McIrvin, Ed Prince, and Carmen Rivera join them for the presentation. (Courtesy of City of Renton)

Renton City Councilmember Kim-Khánh Văn has earned a Certificate of Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities (AWC).

AWC’s Certificate of Municipal Leadership program recognizes city and town elected officials for accomplishing training in five core areas:

  • Roles, responsibilities, and legal requirements
  • Public sector resource management
  • Community planning and development
  • Effective local leadership
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion

“I am grateful to learn from experts through the Certificate of Municipal Leadership program. From effective local leadership to addressing homelessness, climate resilience, accessing American Rescue Plan Act funds, public safety, and community development, among other topics, I am equipped with the knowledge to be an effective councilmember,” said Văn. “With this additional knowledge coupled with my lived and professional experiences as a former Vietnamese refugee, mom, daughter, small business owner, volunteer JAG, Rotarian, RTC Foundation board member, and an attorney, I’m able to have a holistic approach to governing and to better advocate for our Renton community to the best that I can. It’s an honor to receive this certificate.”

To earn the certificate, Văn completed more than 30 hours of training.

“Being a city leader in Washington is a complex job,” said Deanna Dawson, CEO for the Association of Washington Cities. “Our CML program provides elected officials the knowledge they need to operate within the law effectively, plan for the future, secure and manage funds, foster strong relationships, and build more equitable communities.”

Văn is in her first term on the city council, after she was elected to the position in 2019.

She chairs the Transportation Committee, is vice-chair of the Public Safety Committee and is a member of the Finance Committee. She also serves on the South County Area Transportation Board, Eastside Transportation Partnership, Regional Law Safety and Justice Committee, Cedar River Council, Mayor’s Inclusion Task Force, and the Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services, among others.

She joins fellow Councilmember Ed Prince (2015) in earning a Certificate of Municipal Leadership. In addition, Councilmembers Ruth Pérez (2019) and Valerie O’Halloran (2022) have earned an Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership.