Former Deputy Mayor of External Affairs, Seattle, Washington

Kendee Yamaguchi was Seattle’s Deputy Mayor of External Affairs and worked to foster strong and collaborative relationships between the City of Seattle and community groups, non-profit organizations, and local businesses; support the City’s COVID response; direct the mayor-elect’s external relations team; and coordinate mayoral priorities around cultural initiatives and events. Yamaguchi brings more than two decades of government service, having held leadership roles in the White House and Washington State’s Department of Commerce, Office of the Attorney General and Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs. In the private sector, she worked both as an attorney and television executive for a leading international cable network. As Executive Director for Snohomish County, she led the early COVID-19 economic response. Yamaguchi earned a bachelor’s degree from American University and law degree from Seattle University. Yamaguchi has served on the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, Washington State Bar Association Professionalism Committee, and local and national boards.

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