Mayor

Mayor Biography

Mayor Greg Hansen

After almost 20 years in the hospitality industry, Greg joined the Business Administration faculty at Whatcom Community College as an adjunct instructor in 2006.  In addition to general business courses, Greg also teaches a number of hospitality related courses and serves as Whatcom Community College’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program coordinator.  Greg holds Bachelor degrees in Economics and Political Science as well as History and Social Studies from Western Washington University.  He has also completed significant Graduate work in History at WWU.

His work at the Resort Semiahmoo included virtually every job in the restaurant industry starting as a “busser”, moving on to waiter and eventually the Food and Beverage Manager and later Director of Restaurants.

Greg lives in Ferndale with his wife Raquel and two children, Andrew, age 20 and Katie, age 13.  Greg has been a resident of the Ferndale community for 50 years.

Mayor Hansen was elected in 2019 and his term ends December 2023.

Role of the Mayor

Ferndale’s Mayor exercises the responsibilities as outlined by law for as Mayor-Council plan of government.  This includes exercising general supervision over the administrative affairs of the City; the responsibility for the appointment and removal of personnel; and the execution of the laws and policies as adopted by the City Council.

Specifically, Ferndale’s mayor is responsible for attending to the following functions and areas of responsibility: Provide direction in the development and carrying out priority of the annual City Budget; provide information, reports, recommendations and staffing for meetings of the City Council; keep Council advised of City needs and activities; provide coordination between City departments and between the City and other entities; provide information to the public on issues, affairs and policies of the City; Represent the City as needed on various boards and committees; manage City contracts for special services as needed (legal and judicial services, grants and loans, special projects, etc.); and supervises all department heads and provides direction as needed.