David Lopez, Dana Evans join College Place City Council

College Place City Council has selected two new members to fill the spots of former members Loren Peterson and Melodie Williams, who resigned in April.

The two new members, Dana Evans and David Lopez, were selected by the City Council after interviews on Wednesday, May 20, and have both been sworn in. They are each serving terms that end in 2027.

Lopez, who is now the Position 4 council member, is the executive director of the Center for Humanitarian Engagement at Walla Walla University.

"One of the reasons I applied for the City Council position is that I've always believed community is built through both policy and action," Lopez said. "Throughout my career, I've worked to strengthen our community through volunteer initiatives, service projects, neighborhood engagement and partnerships that bring people together. Through those experiences, I've had the opportunity to see both the strengths of our community and some of the needs that still exist around us."

Lopez is active as a board member and volunteer for many local organizations, including Blue Mountain Action Council's Commitment to Community advisory committee and WWU's Diversity and Inclusion Council. He also serves as the president of the Garrison Creek Heights Homeowners Association and started the Hey Neighbor Neighbor initiative, which helps neighbors connect and support one another. The Walla Walla Tool Library is one outcome of Hey Neighbor Neighbor.

Lopez said that these experiences have taught him that the best way to help people is not simply by providing services, but to empower them with the resources and relationships they need to succeed.

"As a council member, I hope to bring those lessons, along with experiences I've gained working locally and around the world, to help make College Place an even stronger community," Lopez said. "I am particularly interested in exploring ways to strengthen neighborhood connections through volunteerism, community cleanups, prayer walks, neighborhood gatherings and other grassroots efforts that help people get to know one another."

He said he also hopes to be a voice for important groups in the community, including the aging population, students and the Hispanic community.

"I want to help ensure that everyone feels heard and valued as we continue shaping the future of College Place," Lopez said.

Meanwhile Evans, who was selected for Position 5 on the council, is the vice president and credit administration officer at Baker Boyer Bank, where she has worked for 10 years. She describes herself as an attorney who found her home in banking.

Evans recently retired from coaching, which she's done for 20 years. She most recently was the head coach for the Walla Walla High School girls soccer team.

"I've enjoyed the city for 10 years and people have done a lot of work for me to be able to do that and I just feel that it's my turn to put in the work as well," Evans said. "So I just have a heart for service and I'm wanting to give back what was given to me."

Evans is also part of the Walla Walla Exchange Club, which she joined just after moving to the Valley 10 years ago. She's currently a candidate for the Region 2 vice president position to serve on the national board.

As a council member, Evans said she hopes her legal background and experience in banking will provide a unique perspective to the group.

"Overall, I just really want to be a connection between the actions of the local city government and the citizens that they serve," Evans said. "So I want to make sure I'm working hard to have a clear understanding of what the needs and wants are, and then making sure that those solutions can actually come to fruition."

She said she wants constituents to know that she strives to provide benefits and has a heart for service.

"I'm here to work beside and for them and that I always have an open ear," Evans said. "I hope when people you know get to know me they see that they can always trust that I'm going to work hard and have an open heart and just be a servant leader for them."

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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 10:08 PM.