Stephen Buxbaum is the mayor elect in Olympia, while the seven members of the Lacey City Council will decide which council member will serve as mayor for the next two years. Councilors Jason Hearn and Andy Ryder are lobbying their colleagues for the appointment.
What strikes us, as we reflect back on the outstanding service of Nelson and Mah is the similarity in their management styles. Neither seeks the spotlight for himself, instead preferring to shine the light on their community and its accomplishments.
Both Mah and Nelson are men of integrity who have always had the best interests of their city top of mind. They ruled not with an iron fist, but instead in a collaborative fashion, seeking to draw in others and always with sense of inspiration and pride.
They will be greatly missed.
Tom Nelson has dedicated himself to public service, first as a police officer for the City of Lacey, then as a member of the North Thurston school board, then back to the city for eight years as a council member, including the last two years as mayor. After retiring after 24 years as a police officer and leaving the school board, Nelson took a job as facilities director for North Thurston Public Schools, a job he still holds.
At the helm in Lacey, Nelson continued a long-standing tradition of fiscal conservatism, solid city leadership and environmental stewardship.
Between 2004 and 2011, Lacey saw 4,000 new jobs created, the city’s plan for the Gateway Town Center took its first steps forward and witnessed an explosion in distribution warehouses in the Hawks Prairie area.
Lacey officials are proud that 96 percent of their streets are rated either “good” or “very good.” Nelson helped start the community market, saw 1,045 acres of parks and trails acquired or developed, oversaw the completion of Lacey’s portion of the Woodland Trail, the construction of Regional Athletic Complex and Rainier Vista Park.
Lacey has constructed nine public buildings, including a community center and senior center, without raising taxes.
Nelson’s quiet, steady hand at the helm helped pilot Lacey through a time of rapid expansion and economic recession.
Mah’s 10 years on the Olympia City Council also was a time of growth and economic turmoil. The city has recently dedicated the Percival Landing boardwalk renovation project, the city’s fourth fire station, the Hands on Children’s Museum and the new City Hall. Most recently, city officials put the revamped artesian well into use.
Mah was known as a bridge builder. He worked alongside Lacey’s Deputy Mayor Nancy Peterson on the LOTT wastewater alliance and when the communities were bitterly divided over how to spend new Public Facilities District tax dollars, it was Mah and Peterson who brokered the deal. They did so within a matter of hours – a testament to their mutual respect and ability to compromise. The deal resulted in $7 million for the children’s museum and $17.8 million for the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey – two of South Sounds most outstanding projects.
Mah helped lead LOTT to its own independent government agency and worked with tribes to finalize a deal for management of Budd Inlet and the Deschutes watershed.
Mah had his share of challenges to manage, as well. As mayor, he had to deal with the aftermath of councilman Joe Hyer’s arrest for marijuana distribution where the undercover agent was former council member Jeff Kingsbury.
Mah also was part of the council majority that increased the building heights on the isthmus to accommodate a mixed-use development that included condos with spectacular views of the Capitol dome, Budd Inlet and the Olympic Mountains. That decision angered a large portion of the community and led to wholesale changes in the makeup of the City Council.
Through it all – the ups and downs – Mah maintained his calm exterior, worked toward compromise and reconciliation and led the capital city with distinction and honor.
The South Sound community owes a huge debt of thanks to Lacey Mayor Tom Nelson and Olympia Mayor Doug Mah for their outstanding stewardship of their respective communities. They will be missed.
