Communications Manager

David Sandler

David's passion for working in the public interest and his belief in the power of government to build community and effect positive change brought him to the City of Mercer Island in 2025.

He has previously worked in higher education: as Director of Marketing and Communications for the School of Law at Seattle University, as Director of Communications and Marketing for Seattle Central College, and as Public Relations Manager for Bellevue College.

David's education includes a Master of Public Administration from the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington. Although he has called Western Washington home for more than 15 years now, David originally hails from North Carolina, where he earned his bachelor’s degree – with a double major in Journalism/Mass Communication and Political Science – from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.   

Earlier in his career, David was a photojournalist who worked for newspapers in both North Carolina and Washington state. After college, he lived and worked for two years teaching English in Japan, one of more than 40 countries he has visited around the globe. An avid mountaineer, David enjoys climbing the majestic peaks of the Pacific Northwest and beyond in his free time, with several summits of Mount Rainier under his belt.

Education

Master of Public Administration, Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington

Bachelor of Arts, Journalism/Mass Communications, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill