These Pierce County cities got new mayors this week. Here’s who they are
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- Lakewood council elected Paul Bocchi mayor; city plans parks, downtown and budget.
- University Place council appointed Stan Flemming mayor; focus on trust, continuity.
- Both councils confirmed leadership amid new councilors; Lakewood preps 2027 budget.
On Monday the city of Lakewood and the city of University Place appointed new mayors, by the vote of their city councils.
Lakewood city councilor Paul Bocchi was the sole nominee from the Lakewood City Council, and University Place city councilor Stan Flemming was appointed to the position after a 4-3 vote.
Bocchi first took office for Position 7 in Lakewood in 2012, and his fourth term is set to expire at the end of 2027, according to Bocchi. After working in the banking industry, he was appointed to the Pierce County Council in 2003 and later accepted his position of Budget Legislative Analyst with the Pierce County Council in 2006, per the city’s website.
He replaces Mayor Jason Whalen, who served on the Lakewood City Council in Position 3 since 2010. Whalen was appointed mayor by the council in 2022 and 2024, according to the city. Bocchi told The News Tribune the city does not have a formal restriction on how many times a council member can be mayor, but the council re-elects a mayor every election cycle.
New faces on the Lakewood City Council this year include Ellen Talbo (Position 1) and Philip Lindholm (Position 3). Current council members Patti Belle (who was elected deputy mayor) and Mike Brandstetter were sworn in for additional four-year terms.
During an interview Tuesday, Bocchi said he was honored to be elected by his peers to lead the city.
Going into 2026, Bocchi said, the city will finalize its parks legacy plan and downtown subarea plan, which includes creating a downtown park and a new community/senior center. Other major park projects are work on Edgewater Park and street-end projects (to improve public water access), he said.
Bocchi becomes mayor at a time when the city has two new city councilors, a new city manager, a new parks director, HR manager and communications manager. The city also will put together its biennial budget for 2027-2028 in a time of high costs and expensive new caseload standards set by the Washington state Supreme Court, he said.
Moving forward, Bocchi said, he will work hard to understand the new councilors’ perspectives and make sure the city’s plans and goals still align with the decisions that need to take place.
Flemming to serve as UP mayor
In University Place, Flemming served on the council when the city incorporated in 1995 until 2009, and again from 2020 to the present, said city staff. Flemming was the city’s first mayor from 1995-1996. His current term is set to expire in 2027.
On Monday, Flemming received a majority of the council votes to become mayor. Fleming currently practices as a physician with the Pacific Medical Specialty Group, was a former state legislator, a Brigadier General in the Army Reserve and served on the Pierce County Council from 2011-2014.
Flemming could not be reached for comment Tuesday. In a speech shortly after he was appointed Monday, Flemming said earning and keeping the public’s trust is something he is committed to day after day. The University Place council chooses the mayor every two years.
“Change in leadership can be challenging. It’s our goal to ease the stress of transition and make it as smooth as possible. Leading our great city, as I said earlier tonight, is a team sport. It requires all of us working together … [and] do our part to represent our citizens who are counting on us to do what is right for our community,” Flemming said. “To some, it may feel like we’re deviating from a course that was previously set, but more importantly, we’re continuing to move in a direction that will be driven by new council priorities, as well as refining some of those that we currently have.”
Flemming replaces Mayor Javier Figueroa, who served as mayor from 2024-2026 and 2016-2017, according to the city.
On Monday, Figueroa was sworn in to another term on the council that will expire in 2029. Council member Denise McCluskey (Position 5) was sworn in for another two-year term as Mayor Pro Tem. Alecia Cunningham (Position 3) was sworn in as the first Black woman to serve on the council. Council member Edward Wood (Position 4) was also sworn in for another term that will expire in 2029.
