Nancy Mathews, 70, a former Renton City Council member, died March 9 in Anacortes, where she moved after her retirement in 2006 from the Kent Police Department.

Mathews was elected to the Renton City Council in 1981, eventually serving three terms. Prior to her election to the City Council, Mathews served on the Renton Parks Board; she’s known for her role in expanding Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park.

She also served as president of the Suburban Cities Association during her third term as a council member.

Mathews was active in regional issues and was instrumental in forming in the 1980s the Valley Transportation Committee, which included representatives from Renton, Kent, Tukwila, Auburn and King County.

Mathews worked at the Kent Police Department and was instrumental in the establishment of traffic-safety task forces in Washington state. In 1983 she was appointed as coordinator of the Kent Drinking/Driver Task Force, which was one of the first traffic-safety task forces in Washington.

Mathews, who was born in Anacortes and graduated from Anacortes High School, was diagnosed with cancer in December.

At the family’s request, contributions in her honor can be made to the Kent Police Department Youth Board at the Kent Police Department, 220 Fourth Ave. S., Kent.