Tumwater’s city administrator announces retirement after 13 years on the job
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story said Doan would retire in 2024. That has been corrected to April 2023.
John Doan announced Friday that he plans to retire from his position as the City Administrator in Tumwater. The decision will take effect in April.
Doan has been in the position since January 2010, having previously held city government positions in Sumner and Seattle. His career in local government spans 36 years, according to an email from Doan.
In the Feb. 9 statement, Doan said he’s been discussing next steps with Mayor Debbie Sullivan, and the city will be hiring a search firm to help find the next person to take on the role. He said the timing feels right to make the announcement because a two-year budget was just adopted, and the Regional Fire Authority proposal is going to voters, so new chapters are beginning.
“In new employee orientations I often say, ‘this is a community with great people and an organization with amazing people,’” Doan said. “We’ve had much change in 13 years — the City has more people and more employees. I’m confident the right people are on board to move the City into an exciting future.”
Doan said his cousin talks of people’s lives being divided into thirds. The first two thirds of his life have been good, Doan said, and he’s looking forward to the adventure of the third. He said he has no particular plans, but he looks forward to spending more time with family and friends and reading a book where he doesn’t “make notes in the margin.”
Mayor Sullivan said the city has selected GMP Consultants to lead the recruiting process. She said the firm believes Tumwater is an exciting community that will attract the right person.
The city of Lacey also is looking for a new city manager after Scott Spence accepted the city manager job in Astoria, Oregon, at the end of last year. Spence, 51, spent 23 years with the city of Lacey and had been city manager since 2011.
This story was originally published February 10, 2023 at 11:55 AM.
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