Gig Harbor has new city administrator. She has 27 years of local government experience
Gig Harbor has a new city administrator.
City officials appointed Linda Kelly, they said in a news release Friday.
“Linda Kelly is a true leader and professional with the experience and heart to serve the City of Gig Harbor,” Mayor Tracie Markley said in the release. “Choosing the right City Administrator is crucial to the success of our City, and we went through a lengthy process, involving City staff, Council, Commissions and Boards and Community representatives to make sure we found the best possible fit. We look forward to the energy and experience Linda will bring to the City.”
Interim city administrator Tony Piasecki stepped in when Bob Larson retired in July, but Piasecki was clear that he didn’t want the job permanently, The Gateway reported.
City officials announced Kelly as one of the finalists last month. Her employment agreement has to be negotiated, the news release said, then a start date will be finalized and she’ll create a transition plan with Piasecki.
“As City Administrator, she will work closely with Mayor Tracie Markley and City Council, managing the City’s daily business, supervising all City departments and offices, and carrying out policies as set by Council by directing the work of City staff,” the news release said. “She’ll be responsible for enforcing the laws of the City, informing the Mayor and Council on important matters relating to municipal government functions, and directing the preparation of the City’s budget.”
Kelly led a staff of 100 as the town manager of Windsor, California, which has a population of 27,000, and she’s worked in local government for 27 years, the news release said. She was also recently the interim director of Habitat for Humanity in Kittitas County.
She’s a certified municipal clerk, was a tourism ambassador with Sonoma County Tourism, got the 2011 ICMA Community Partnership Award for smaller jurisdictions and was a “credentialed manager” with the International City-County Management Association.
Kelly has a master of arts in political science from U.C. Riverside and a certificate in human resources management from the U.C. Santa Cruz Extension.
