Barb Tolbert was elected Mayor for the City of Arlington in November 2011, and has provided leadership to recover the cities financial strength after the recession and the tragedy of the 530 Mudslide.
Barb’s family settled into Arlington in the mid 1980’s establishing an aviation business on the Arlington Airport. Barb served as the Executive Director of the Arlington Fly-In 1994 through 2011 quickly building it into Arlington’s biggest tourism event. Barb still serves in a volunteer capacity for the event after elected Mayor.
Actively involved with many of Arlington’s volunteer organizations, Barb has served: on the Arlington Airport Commission, Arlington’s Economic Development Committee, as a Board member for the Arlington-Smokey Point Chamber of Commerce and for the past nine years as a Director of the Cascade Valley Hospital Foundation.
Barb’s compassionate leadership, energy and experience were never more prominent than during the aftermath of the 530 mudslide. Our town was overflowing with local, state and federal emergency personnel, 117 different relief agencies, more than 100 media organizations and a wave of politicos, from the county executive and governor on up to the president himself.
Through all the intense activity Barb made time each evening to visit with the survivors in the family shelter as they awaited information on their missing loved ones.
Barb’s gracious representation of our City during the 530 disaster led to her being named one of the most influential people 2014 by Seattle Magazine. http://seattlemag.com/article/seattles-most-influential-people-2014?page=0,2
Barb’s history of high-level business success, ability to balance competing priorities and being able to make tough choices have helped the City of Arlington recover from a financial crisis and natural disaster while creating an opportunity for a bright future. Barb was the 2019 recipient of the Henry M Jackson award for exemplary service to the community and a commitment to the economic interests of the region. Everett Herald May 2019.
Barb works consistently in the promotion of family wage jobs, giving Arlington residents the ability to live, work and play in Arlington. In August of 2015 Barb earned the Certificate of Municipal Leadership (CML) and in January 2018 Barb earned the Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership (ACML) by the Association of Washington Cities.
Currently represents the City of Arlington and its interest on the following appointed positions:
- Executive Board of Snohomish County Cities & Towns
- Executive Board of Snohomish County Tomorrow
- Executive Board of Puget Sound Regional Council
- WSU North Puget Sound University Center Advisory Board
- Arlington Family Resource Center Advisory Board
- Snohomish County Tomorrow Steering Committee
- Housing Affordability Regional Task-force