Council Position No. 3

Born in Shelbyville, Indiana in 1976, Derek moved to Gig Harbor with his family 1989. He attended elementary, middle school, and high school in the Peninsula School District until graduating in 1994 from Gig Harbor High School and then attending the University of Washington.

After a several years in banking & governmental affairs, Derek started Empression Media, a marketing and PR firm serving small businesses and non-profits.

Derek was first elected to the Gig Harbor City Council in 1997 at the age of 21 and has won re-election 3 times since. For the past 10 years he has represented Gig Harbor on the Pierce County Regional Council and 5 years representing Pierce County cities (other than Tacoma) on the Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board. Derek also represents small cities on the Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners.

Outside of government Derek is a trustee for Forterra, formerly Cascade Land Conservancy, and an ex officio member of Pierce County’s Tourism Promotion Area Board.