Community Government
Gig Harbor City Council Position 2 | Younger voices seek position on council
No matter who wins the election for Position 2 on the Gig Harbor City Council, they will bring the body’s average age down some.
The race for Position 2 matches Stephen McDuffie, a 36-year-old father of two who both works for and serves in the U.S. Army Reserves; against Patrick MacLeod Ammann, a 24-year-old mixed media designer seeking to become the second-youngest person ever elected to the council.
They are running to replace Roger Henderson, who did not seek re-election.
Voters inside city limits will pick between Ammann and McDuffie in the Nov. 4 election. The Pierce County Elections Office will mail ballots to registered voters starting Friday, Oct. 17.
Patrick Ammann
Ammann has lived in Gig Harbor for more than two decades, attending Discovery Elementary and then St. Patrick’s and Bellarmine in Tacoma for middle school and high school. He is a graduate of the University of Washington, where he studied photo media and ecological restoration.
Ammann said he became more politically involved when the city began work on improvements to 38th Avenue, near his home.
Patrick Ammann
“I realized that I need to speak up more and show them that there were other ways to do it that could actually slow down speeding along 38th,” Ammann said. “At the moment, the improvements have only actually increased speeding along that road.”
He said every generation is represented on the Gig Harbor council except his. He said he wants to improve the diversity of the council, in terms of age, neighborhood and areas of interest.
“I just feel like there aren’t enough voices from different areas of Gig Harbor,” Ammann said. “Specifically my area of Gig Harbor. Also the environmental voice, because we don’t really have an environmental voice. These decisions are being made with no one on the council that has that sort of experience.”
If elected, Ammann would be the second-youngest person elected to the Gig Harbor council. Derek Young was 21 when voters picked him for the council in 1997.
Stephen McDuffie
McDuffie grew up in southern Georgia, a child of a military family. He left active duty with the Army in March and continues to serve as a captain in the Reserves. He also works for the Army Reserves as a logistics management specialist.
McDuffie earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Florida International University in Miami.
Public service is a family tradition, he said.
Stephen McDuffie
“Civic engagement has been part of my life’s work,” McDuffie said. “My mom being a nurse practitioner or nurse the last 30 years, my grandad being a soldier, so on and so forth for generations. It’s important that I give back to my community, especially with the diceyness of today’s climate.”
McDuffie moved to Gig Harbor in early 2020 and is the father of two children, both younger than 4. He previously served on the city parks commission.
He believes his service-related logistics experience would be a bonus to the council.
“I think with my experience running budgets and things like that, I have a solid grasp on it,” McDuffie said. “I could keep it in the black, providing services that are needed for our growth.”
Gig Harbor Now asked both candidates a series of questions about important issues facing the city. Their responses are printed here, with little or no editing.
Tell me a little bit about your background. What compelled you to run for office, in the first place?
Ammann
I’m proud to have grown up here in Gig Harbor, in a community where neighbors truly looked out for one another. That spirit shaped me and has stayed with me through my work with the Port of Tacoma, my studies at the University of Washington–Seattle, and my service in the Washington Conservation Corps. Along the way, I’ve learned that leadership means showing up, listening, and working together to solve problems.
Like so many residents, I’ve seen how much Gig Harbor has changed. More traffic on our streets. Higher costs for families and seniors. Trees, wetlands, and green spaces disappearing. Small businesses struggling to stay here. I get it, because I’ve been here, speaking up, even while at UW Seattle, for neighbors whose voices weren’t being heard.
Today, there’s no environmental voice on council, only one member from the west side of town, and no representation from the 38th Avenue area. Every generation is represented except Gen Z, despite the fact that many of us are trying to start their life and career in the place we grew up. I’m running because Gig Harbor deserves leadership that represents everyone, every generation, every neighborhood, every family.
McDuffie
I am a proud husband, father, and U.S. Army Reserve Captain who is deeply committed to serving both his country and his community. With 5+ years of active-duty service and continued leadership in the Army Reserve, I bring firsthand experience in accountability, teamwork, and public service values that guide his vision for Gig Harbor. After settling in Gig Harbor with my wife and young children, I quickly put down roots. I currently serve as Vice Commander of American Legion Post 236, supporting fellow veterans and strengthening ties between service members and the broader community. I previously served on the Gig Harbor Parks Commission, where I worked to enhance local green spaces for all residents to enjoy and build a place for his children and seniors to enjoy great places outdoors. I am running for City Council, because I believe Gig Harbor deserves leaders who lead with integrity, listen to their neighbors, and work hard for practical results. As a parent raising the next generation here, I’m invested in a future that supports safe neighborhoods, well-planned growth, and strong local services. My children are my major reason for running and I saw traffic is my biggest major issue.
How will you address Gig Harbor’s housing crisis?
McDuffie
Gig Harbor’s housing challenges can be solved through smart growth that balances affordability, accountability, and environmental stewardship. Smart growth means holding developers responsible for contributing to infrastructure, protecting our natural resources, and building sustainably. Zoning updates should allow accessory dwelling units, cottage housing, and townhomes in walkable areas, while encouraging cluster housing that preserves open space and maintains our forest canopy. Growth must also protect our aquifer, wetlands, and shorelines through low-impact design, stormwater safeguards, and strong tree retention standards. By pursuing partnerships with Pierce County, the State of Washington, and nonprofit housing organizations, we can expand affordable and workforce housing without raising local taxes, ensuring that Gig Harbor remains both livable and resilient for future generations. Growth will happen one way or another, we must wisely manage it.
Ammann
Gig Harbor is facing a housing crisis both in affordability and availability. The old approach of annexing land and clear-cutting for sprawl isn’t sustainable. It drives up city costs, worsens traffic, and chips away at the forests and green spaces that make our town unique.
The city has taken steps, like allowing up to two ADUs per property and updating the Comprehensive Plan to guide housing where it makes sense. These changes open the door to starter homes, cottage housing, and other small projects that fit Gig Harbor’s character. However, we can do more, carefully, and with residents leading the way, because no single person or councilmember can solve housing alone, but together as a community, we can.
One approach with strong support is making better use of underutilized spaces, vacant parcels, and oversized parking lots. With thoughtful planning, these areas can become opportunities for attainable housing and neighborhood-friendly spaces that fit Gig Harbor’s character. Because they rely on existing infrastructure, they also reduce costs and strain on city services. By building smarter, we can ensure families, seniors, and young people all have a place in Gig Harbor.
If you were to list one major issue Gig Harbor faces, what would they be? Why? What will you do about them?
Ammann
The #1 issue I hear about from neighbors is infrastructure, and frankly, it’s frustrating for all of us. Our roads, sidewalks, trails, and transit, are struggling to keep up with traffic from the city and county, and safety is a constant concern for families, seniors, and kids walking or biking. Residents tell me every day how much this impacts their lives, and I’ve experienced it myself. My family and I run these roads regularly, so I’ve seen firsthand how congestion and unsafe streets affect daily life.
The city has started moving in the right direction, with pedestrian improvements, the Cushman Trail expansion, and planning a Citywide Transit Master Plan to better connect neighborhoods, businesses, and the bridge. But these plans only matter if we follow through.
On Council, I will push for solutions like: connecting sidewalks and bike lanes to destinations, not just dead-ends, advocating for more public transit, and supporting small-scale, thoughtful improvements that strengthen our neighborhoods and community spaces. Smarter planning will mean safer streets, stronger neighborhoods, and a more connected Gig Harbor. Community input is key, we need people to reach out to us so we can make this work for everyone.
McDuffie
Traffic Management/ Public Safety
We are divided by Washington State Route 16 cutting Gig Harbor in half with 3 highway exits/onramps connecting to said Highway. With each side of town having within city limits only two thoroughfares that move North/South as our city is oriented. Working in partnership with the state DOT for widening the overpass for Wollochet at Exit 11. Redesigning our onramps (specifically to make it safer for those entering the highway). Expanding the overpass as well for Burnham Drive for Westbound Lane to be 2 lanes as the eastbound side currently has.
Traffic Calming measures for speeding (Speed bumps or Speeding Strips) to be explored along Vernhardson Street alongside a pedestrian crossing near the Randall Drive Street to the Crescent Creek Park.
Keeping pace with Vacancies at our police department to make sure those positions are filled with quality personnel in a timely manner.
Hunt/ Skansie Ave interchange, look at a warning light system to provide calm speeding traffic and visibility.
Rosedale/ Skansie – Traffic Study for the possibility of a red light, Roundabout, versus a 4 way stop.
What would you say to folks who are afraid that population growth will mean an increase in crime and who attribute a rise in crime to renters?
McDuffie
Crime is not tied to renters- many are vital members of our community.
Growth is natural for an area of safety, beauty, and vibrancy. Gig Harbor’s Reputation is known widely for good schools, great place to live, quiet, safe, and enjoyable life for those that live here. We can and want to have good people to move here who will contribute to making Gig Harbor a better place. I believe that attributing crime increases to renters is a misplaced viewpoint that data does not necessarily say is the case. Gig Harbors growth brings families, workers, seniors and youth who contribute to our city. Much of the crime is associated in our town with those that live outside our city. Enforce the laws. We should focus on facts and building a safe, welcoming Gig Harbor for all our current and future residents, and all visitors.
Ammann
When I spoke with our police department, they told me that the vast majority of crime in Gig Harbor is property-related, mostly theft, and that much of it is attributed to non-residents. In fact, serious crimes actually went down 11% in 2024 compared to 2023, and Gig Harbor remains one of the safest places in the region.
Crime has not risen because of renters, they are our neighbors, many of them are teachers, nurses, retirees, young families, and even council members who want to own a home here but struggle to afford it. They’re part of our community, and many of them have rented here their whole lives and are invested in keeping Gig Harbor safe and welcoming.
If residents are worried about safety as Gig Harbor grows, the real issue isn’t renters; it’s how we grow. Sprawl creates more roads and neighborhoods for police to monitor, which can stretch resources thin and slow down response times. The community feedback I’ve received has expressed similar concerns, which is why we need to move towards a more sustainable plan for housing and infrastructure that doesn’t add more roads for our police to patrol.
What are your thoughts on the city’s Climate Action Plan? What do you think could be done better or differently?
Ammann
I think Gig Harbor’s Climate Action Plan is a strong step forward. It sets ambitious but achievable goals, like reducing emissions 45% by 2030 and 95% by 2050, and it links climate action with protecting our local ecosystems. A major concern in our community is tree canopy loss, which impacts air quality, stormwater, and carbon capture. The plan calls for cutting canopy loss in half by 2030 and 102% by 2050, but I believe we should go further by protecting critical areas more strictly and expanding canopy through redevelopment and road improvements.
We also need to prioritize native plantings. On the city’s approved street tree list in right-of-ways, only about half are native to North America and very few are from the Pacific Northwest. Encouraging native species would strengthen the CAP’s impact beyond just planting trees, since they provide the greatest ecological benefits.
We need to bring back what we’ve lost. On Council, I’ll work with staff and the community to make the CAP and Urban Forest Management Plan become reality. Biennial progress reports will provide transparency, and with my environmental background, I’ll help balance ambition with affordability so the plan delivers real results.
McDuffie
The Climate Action Plan should be integrated into the City’s Comprehensive Plan as a Climate and Resiliency element with a greenhouse gas reduction sub-element, ensuring our goals are enforceable and aligned with smart infrastructure investments.
Emissions targets need to be binding with annual progress reporting, reinforcing transparency and fiscal responsibility in how we manage taxpayer resources.
Housing policies must reflect new state law by removing barriers to affordable, modular, and mass-timber housing, while supporting sustainable growth that protects Gig Harbor’s community character.
Energy policy should expand access to rooftop and community solar, small-scale wind, and storage projects, making clean energy more affordable and reliable for families and local businesses.
Finally, equity and resilience must guide every decision so that all residents: seniors, working families, and future generations benefit from safe, sustainable neighborhoods and vibrant parks and recreation opportunities.
Bottom line: These updates not only keep Gig Harbor compliant with state law, but they also strengthen our platform of smart growth, community safety, and long-term sustainability.