Meet Puyallup’s new mayor. His plans for the city include micro-condos, animal rights
Dean Johnson joined the Puyallup City Council about seven years ago as a response to an inner calling, he said. This year, he’s responding to that calling in a different way.
Johnson was sworn in as the city’s mayor Jan. 11. He will serve for the 2022-2023 term along with deputy mayor Ned Witting.
Johnson was first elected to the City Council in 2015, and he was reelected in 2019. Prior to becoming a council member, he was a pastor at multiple churches in Pierce County.
Johnson’s roots in Puyallup stretch back about five generations. His relatives have been in Puyallup since the town was founded in 1890.
“I feel very connected to this wonderful town,” Johnson said. “I want to be able to serve this town in a way that makes a difference for not only those that are here now, but those that’ll come.”
Johnson was born in Tacoma, and he and his family moved to Puyallup over 20 years ago. He said he wanted his children to learn about city government, so he brought them to some City Council meetings.
“During that time when I was watching those over 20 years ago I kind of got intrigued,” Johnson said. “I recognize this inner call to public service.”
After Johnson sensed that inner call, he waited about 15 years before he decided to run for council. He said the timing was important to him and around 2015 was when he felt ready.
“I’m just responding to a call to public service, because we certainly don’t do this for the money,” Johnson said. “I think 1,200 bucks a month isn’t quite enough to sustain a family.”
One of the issues he would like to tackle as mayor is the lack of affordable housing for first-time homebuyers. As a father of children who are working full-time and cannot afford to buy a house, it “crushes” him, he said.
“I want to hit that hard,” Johnson said. “I believe the city can do that.”
Johnson also said he wants to look into building more micro-condos downtown. Micro-condos are a smaller version of regular-sized condominium units. Having micro-condos can help people build equity and wealth in the long run, he said.
“There’s one more group of people who I think this would benefit,” Johnson said. “Think of those empty nesters. They’ve already been there, done that … their kids have moved off. They don’t need a 3,000-square-foot house anymore.”
In addition to housing, Johnson also wants to look into increasing protections for animals and household pets. He said he believes many people don’t treat their pets or animals very well.
“I think every pet and wild animal deserves to be treated humanely and not abused or in conditions that would cause them to suffer,” Johnson said.
Johnson said he is planning to establish a committee that will explore ways the city can ensure that animals and pets will get the help and support they need if they are being mistreated by people.
“As I got older I’ve become more sensitive to animals,” Johnson said. “I recognize that they’re trying to survive like all of us, and we need to do what we can to make sure that they are not mistreated intentionally or unintentionally.”
Another priority on Johnson’s to-do list is to refine the city’s approach to homelessness. He wants the city to look into ways they can provide more rehabilitative opportunities for people struggling with drug and substance abuse.
Johnson said he also wants to explore ways the city can offer living spaces where people struggling with mental illness can get the help they need. Another thing he wants to city to look into is providing assistance to those who may not be struggling with drug and substance abuse or mental illness, but need help getting back on their feet.
Homelessness is not an issue specific to Puyallup, Johnson said. Witting has been taking the lead on the issue and is working with regional groups and neighboring cities to come up with solutions, he said.
“The homeless situation has been clumped together. It’s like they’re all the same people, but they’re not,” Johnson said. “You need to filter out … how can you help each of those groups effectively rather than a one-size-fits-all.”
