Tacoma's City Council has made its pick for Deputy Mayor, and the name is Kiara Daniels, an At-Large Council Member known for her extensive community advocacy. Daniels, who stepped into the role earlier this year, is a native of Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood, where she has a history of dedicated service. "My love for Tacoma has no limits and I am excited to serve as Deputy Mayor for 2025," Daniels expressed in a statement detailed on the city's official website.
In her tenure, Daniels has outlined a bold vision for the city, prioritizing issues from affordable housing to local economic development—all with an eye toward creating a stronger community for all. Particularly, she has led efforts to update the City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan, and she has taken the initiative to secure funding for a new Business Safety and Resilience Program set to launch later this year, according to the City of Tacoma's news release. Daniels' forward-thinking approach is not limited to economics; she also acknowledges the fundamental role of accessible childcare in ensuring economic stability for families, prompting her to back a hefty $1.5 million City funding boost for affordable childcare services.
Her commitment extends into housing advocacy, with Daniels sponsoring the City's Anti-Displacement Strategy and playing a central role in the regional Black Homeownership Initiative. She aims to decrease racial inequities within Washington state’s housing sector and has advanced policies to progress homeownership opportunities. Daniels remains consumed by this mission, as she also reviews the Multifamily Tax Exemption to secure alignment with the city's developmental objectives.
Deputy Mayor Daniels' work also touches the heart of Tacoma's cultural essence, overseeing the reauthorization of Tacoma Creates, a bid to advance access to cultural and scientific experiences city-wide, particularly for youth. Her role in supporting safe spaces for young people is evident in her collaboration with Mayor Victoria Woodards on the Summer Teen Late Nights program, which uses City resources to offer safe activities for teenagers after school. She doesn't shy away from getting her own hands dirty, as well—having taken part in community service events ranging from litter cleanup to preparing food at the Tacoma Rescue Mission.
Before her Council appointment, Daniels was instrumental in supporting Black-owned businesses through her work with Spaceworks Tacoma and the Hilltop Business Support program. She also earned the City of Tacoma’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Emerging Leader Award in 2020, an accolade reflecting her deep-rooted service ethos. "I am proud to welcome Kiara Daniels as our new Deputy Mayor," Mayor Woodards said, recognizing Daniels' fervent dedication to the community and her keen ability to help foster a stronger, more vibrant Tacoma.
