Manager of 2nd-largest Pierce County city to retire. No immediate word on replacement
Longtime Lakewood city manager John Caulfield will be retiring in June after nearly 12 years, the city announced recently.
Caulfield’s last day will be June 5. The city is in the early stages of finding his replacement and will likely hire a professional firm to search for candidates, city spokesperson Brynn Grimley told The News Tribune this week. Grimley didn’t have further information about which firm would be hired, what the search would look like and what the city is looking for in its next manager.
Caulfield made about $241,000 in 2023, according to the latest city’s salary report.
During his tenure as city manager, Caulfield “led staff to dramatically improve Lakewood’s finances [and] to aggressively pursue legislative agendas that brought much-needed attention and funding to improve our parks, our road and sidewalk infrastructure, our public safety initiatives and our critical relationships with JBLM, the Nisqually Tribe and other regional partners,” Mayor Jason Whalen said in a statement on behalf of the City Council.
“As a result of John’s leadership, years of professional management, and investment in his key staff, Lakewood has prospered in all areas,” Whalen said in a press release. “While Council will miss John’s steady hand at the helm, we are thankful for his hiring of capable, smart staff and for his longstanding commitment to mentoring young professionals desirous of a career in public service.”
In a press release Caulfield said serving the community “has been a great honor.”
“Throughout my tenure, I have been inspired by the resilience and spirit of this organization and community,” he said. “Together, we have achieved significant milestones that have made Lakewood stronger, more vibrant and more connected.”
Prior to starting as city manager of Lakewood in 2013, Caulfield was the city manager of Mountlake Terrace for seven years. He also served as the deputy city manager of University Place from 2002-2006, was assistant city manager in 2001 and finance director for University Place from 1997-2001. Caulfield worked as a financial analyst for the city of Federal Way from 1991-1997, according to Grimley.
Caulfield led the city’s “aggressive legislative agenda” to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in grant funding to pay for major transportation infrastructure, improvements and park capital projects, Grimley said.
He has served as a leader for the South Sound Military and Communities Partnership, is a member of the International City Manager’s Association and the Washington City Manager’s Association, serves with the Lakewood Rotary Club and is a retired U.S. Army Ranger, Grimley said.
