Residency Questions Surround Mark Hodgson’s Path to Port Angeles
Public records show Olympia work and an Olympia address — raising timeline questions for a local elected official
Public documents show that Mark Hodgson applied for Olympia’s Social Justice & Equity Commission listing an Olympia address, served in the Washington State Patrol’s Executive Protection Unit with an official workstation in Olympia, and simultaneously sought roles and leadership positions in Clallam County — including Port Angeles City Council. The timeline raises a straightforward question:
Where was he actually living and working while seeking to represent Port Angeles residents?
Two Attempts at City Council
Here’s what we know regarding Mark Hodgson’s efforts to serve on the Port Angeles City Council:
2023 – Applied for Appointment
When a vacancy opened at the end of 2022 after Mike French became Clallam County Commissioner, Hodgson applied for appointment. He was interviewed but was not selected.
2025 – Filed to Run and Elected
In 2025, Hodgson filed to run for Port Angeles City Council (Position 3). He ran unopposed and was elected. He now serves as a councilmember as of 2026.
At the Same Time: Olympia Service and Olympia Address
On LinkedIn, Hodgson lists service on the City of Olympia Social Justice & Equity Commission beginning March 2023 to present.
The stated purpose of that commission:
“Eliminate racism and fulfill human rights for a just and equitable Olympia for all people.”
Through a public records request, Hodgson’s application to that commission — dated December 2022 — lists an address on Fox Run Drive NW in Olympia.
That same time period is when he was applying for appointment to the Port Angeles City Council.
So the question arises:
Was he attempting to join the Port Angeles City Council while residing in Olympia?
Executive Protection Assignment: Olympia Workstation
An April 2021 interoffice communication confirms Hodgson’s transfer to the Executive Protection Unit (EPU) of the Washington State Patrol.
The memo states:
Official Workstation:
106 11th Avenue SW, Olympia WA 98504
That is WSP headquarters adjacent to the Washington State Capitol.
The memo also specifies:
Compliance with WSP Policy 11.07.010 (Residence Definition)
Compliance with WSPTA Article 9 (Residence Requirement)
Department-paid moving expenses if relocation was required
30 days lodging/subsistence if establishing new residence
While it does not explicitly state “must live in Olympia,” EPU is a rapid-response assignment protecting the Governor and family — requiring proximity and immediate availability.
The relocation language strongly suggests that residence near Olympia would be expected unless already within acceptable response distance.
Documents show an “appointment change” to Executive Protection effective October 1, 2021.
Clallam County Roles While Listing Olympia Address
In his Olympia commission application, Hodgson lists involvement in:
Clallam County Homelessness Task Force
Port Angeles Parks and Recreation Commissioner
Clallam County Habitat for Humanity Board
He also references efforts to address “systemic historical racial bias in housing” while serving as President for Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County, the same organization that created the nation’s first Native American Housing Liaison position after receiving a $50,000 donation from the Jamestown Corporation.
This area of the application is notable because:
He was listing an Olympia residential address.
His official workstation was in Olympia.
He was simultaneously serving on boards representing Clallam County.
That overlap deserves clarification.
The DEI Application Language
His Olympia application contains extensive language regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, and “lived experience” as a “person of color.”
He describes:
Membership on the WSP Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council
Attendance at the Governor’s DEI conference
Participation in The People’s Gathering
Applying a DEI “lens” to policy
Interviewing through “counter-bias investigative techniques”
He states:
“We need to start by including social justice and equity impacts into every decision we make.”
That policy lens may now influence City of Port Angeles governance. Voters should understand that framework.
Attendance and Availability Questions
The Olympia application asked whether he could attend evening meetings. He answered he was “willing and prepared to commit the time necessary.”
However:
During the 2025 Charter Review Commission, he had the lowest attendance of 15 commissioners.
He did not attend a town hall in his district.
He missed his initial Port Angeles City Council swearing-in due to a work conflict, delaying his formal assumption of office.
The Timing of the Transfer Back to Port Angeles
On January 26, 2026 an internal memo confirms Hodgson exercised reversion rights and transferred to Port Angeles.
Notably, that effective date was four days after the “A Missed First Impression” article was published by CC Watchdog which raised flags about his residency.
A Straightforward Question
Was Mark Hodgson:
Living in Olympia while serving on Clallam boards?
Attempting to join Port Angeles City Council while residing elsewhere?
Serving on executive protection detail in Olympia while representing Port Angeles constituents?
If his residency did change, when did that happen? What exactly are the residency requirements for someone serving on the Port Angeles City Council — is there a minimum amount of time a person has to live here before filing or taking office? And more broadly, does it sit right with voters if someone is elected and only then establishes residency in the jurisdiction?
These aren’t personal attacks. They’re basic questions about representation. People expect their councilmembers to live in — and be rooted in — the community they serve. Clear answers would go a long way toward putting any confusion to rest.
Public office requires public clarity and trust.
What’s Next?
Councilmembers are expected to:
Live among the people they represent
Be physically available
Attend meetings consistently
Prioritize local issues over political ladder climbing
Hodgson’s public trajectory shows:
Advisory boards
NGO appointments
Task forces
Commission roles
Executive Protection detail
City Council seat
On social media, Hodgson’s girlfriend described his political journeyo as “just the beginning.”
Beginning of what?
Port Angeles voters deserve transparency on residency, timeline, and commitment.
That’s not suspicion.
That’s accountability.
The Conservation District did not respond to yesterday's email regarding the League of Women Voters' offer to help process ballots. Here is today's email to the City of Port Angeles City Council members at council@cityofpa.us:
Dear Members of the Port Angeles City Council,
I’m writing to respectfully request clarification regarding the city’s residency requirements for councilmembers. Specifically, what are the minimum residency standards for candidates at the time of filing, and how is “residency” defined and verified under city code? In light of recent public discussion, can the council clarify when Councilmember Mark Hodgson established residency within city limits relative to his candidacy and election? More broadly, does the council believe additional transparency or documentation around candidate residency would help strengthen public confidence and avoid similar questions in future elections? I believe clear answers would go a long way toward reinforcing trust in local representation.
Thank you for your time and service.
I can't get over what the core of DEI does to people and that Hodgson has fallen for it. I have zero respect for his whimpering under one breath and then the next minute his derisive behavior in the next on the CRC. He trades his perceived abuse at the hands of others as a weapon to abuse others who aren't like him. It's disgusting behavior I'm sure his parents didn't teach him.
Absolutely everyone has at least one grievance about how they have been treated no matter their race or gender, the difference is how you deal with it. The emotional creatures in our government have figured out how to leverage just the DEI axis' into the equation for control. The result, more harm, not less. This belly bitching isn't good strictly from the perspective of building strong and resilient people who have the self-control and maturity to deal with their lives and not thrust it on others. We need more people who understand that they are the masters of their own destiny and that life doesn't just happen to them and are helpless.
In the end Hodgson only abuses himself because he has a dim view of himself.
What DEI teaches society is to not elevate oneself, rather it is the push others down to your level so that you don't have to feel bad for lacking the ability to elevate yourself by your own work.