Tumwater mayor-elect fires city administrator, replaces police chief
Tumwater’s mayor-elect Leatta Dahlhoff confirmed on Tuesday that the city will be seeking a new City Administrator once Dahlhoff is officially in charge on Jan. 1.
Dahlhoff told The Olympian on Dec. 30 that that will be an agenda item on Jan. 6 for the City Council to review and approve a contract for Paul Simmons to become the next city administrator, with an effective date of Jan. 16.
Simmons was previously the director of Olympia’s Parks, Arts and Recreation Department. He was also a finalist for the Tumwater City Administrator job before Lisa Parks landed the position.
Dahlhoff said staff are drafting a response to go out Jan. 6 with more information regarding the change and thanking Parks for her dedication to the role.
“I wish Lisa Parks all the best, and I thank her for her service, and I’m going in a different direction, and that includes council hopefully approving Paul Simmons’ contract as our next city administrator,” she said.
The Olympian was not immediately able to reach Parks for comment Tuesday afternoon.
The announcement comes just after the city’s Police Chief Jay Mason announced his last day will be Jan. 2. In his official post, Mason said Dahlhoff made the decision, because the police chief is an at-will position to the mayor. In response, Dahlhoff said Mason requested a separation from the city, and that his reasoning was between him and the police guild.
Dalhoff said Tuesday that the statement she made then still rings true: Leadership transitions are never easy, but they can invite reflection on what is and is not working.
She said she has been listening to staff and to what residents want, and as mayor she has to create a team that helps the City Council be successful.
“So I’m transitioning myself from the legislative branch of government to the executive, and now my job is creating a team that can implement the policies that council is passing,” she said. “And so I am selecting the team that gives Tumwater the best chance of dealing with today’s issues while also building for tomorrow’s future.”
Dahlhoff has served on the City Council since 2018.
This story was originally published December 30, 2025 at 1:41 PM.
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