Coupeville Town Councilwoman Molly Hughes announced this week that she will run for mayor.

Hughes, who is serving her 12th year on the council, announced that last month that she would not run for her council seat again.

That same week Mayor Nancy Conard said she would not seek reelection after 20 years in office.

“It’s a big job being the mayor and the people who would do it successfully need to care about the community,” Conard said, “and Molly has demonstrated she has a big heart for Coupeville.”

Hughes said she isn’t looking to make big changes.

“Having been a Town Council member for the past 12 years, I feel I will have a jump on learning the new responsibilities of being mayor,” she said Monday. “I am very proud of the work we have done over the last decade and would like the opportunity to continue that good work and keep Coupeville moving in a positive direction.”

In the immediate future, Hughes said there are two big items the town needs to accomplish.

She said updating the town’s comprehensive plan is a major project that requires staff and community involvement. The town will start work on that update in the near future.

She also said the long-running Madrona Way project should be completed in the next two years.

“It’s just a really big job for a town our size,” Hughes said. “We’re trying to accomplish so many things at once.”

Her other priorities, Hughes said, are the smaller projects and items the town has had to shelve. She brought up the Community Green Plan and how it’s been sitting on the sidelines.

“It has a great design, but after it just kind of got put aside,” she said. “Can we afford it? Can we phase it out? That’s the cool thing about Coupeville, that we can talk about it as a community.”

The Coupeville Town Council is taking steps to transition the duties of the mayor position. Conard currently serves as the mayor and town administrator, a role that was created to fit her skill set. The town is making adjustments to have other departments and staff assume some of those responsibilities and in the future the town clerk may assume the administrator position.

Hughes said that she would like the chance to work with town staff more closely.

“I believe I have a good work ethic and a lot of common sense,” she said. “I lead by example and it’s important to me that those I work with feel included in decision making and valued for their contributions.”

Hughes is active in the community, serving in a variety of nonprofit programs and groups.

She said her involvement has given her experience she thinks will help her serve in the position as mayor.

“As the president of Gifts from the Heart Food Bank, a board member of the Coupeville Lions and an Ebey’s Landing Trust Board member, I am familiar and comfortable with financial reports and budgets,” Hughes said. “As a Town Council Member, I am very comfortable with the town’s past financial priorities and would continue to manage the town’s resources in a conservative, sustainable manner.”

Hughes is a 20-year resident of Coupeville and has raised two sons in the community.

She also owns one of the Reserve’s historic buildings and is involved with the business community.

“I understand what a very special and unique place our little waterfront town is,” she said. “I would always work hard to determine priorities and manage resources for the betterment of all. Long term, intentional, thoughtful, planning and goal setting is critical to the future of Coupeville.”