Newsletter - February 2026

President's Message

As we wrap up the second month of 2026, I’m excited to share that your WCMA Board has completed a draft of our updated Strategic Plan. This draft represents months of thoughtful work to ensure our priorities reflect the needs of our members and the communities we serve.

In 3–5 Years, as a result of our work, we will see:

• Clear roles, responsibilities, and structures that support organizational continuity and reduce reliance on informal or ad hoc systems.
• Strong resources and support systems that help members advance good governance, build trust, and uphold the value of the profession.
• A dynamic, engaged peer network that promotes collaborative learning, mentorship, and professional growth.
• Active and engaged members in every Washington city and county, with increased participation across regions and organization types.
• A strengthened pipeline into local government management that is attractive, obtainable, and diverse.
• Durable partnerships that help WCMA accomplish its strategic goals and extend its reach.

To help achieve these goals, we are formalizing committees that will lead our work, and we’ll be looking to engage more of our general membership in achieving our long-term goals. We hope to share more of our progress after our March Board Meeting on March 26, 2026. 

I want to express my sincere gratitude to the entire board of directors for their hard work in bringing this effort to completion. A special thank you goes to Una McAlinden of Creative Solutions for her guidance and expertise in helping us craft this plan. Her support has been instrumental in shaping a clear, actionable vision for WCMA.

Looking ahead, don’t miss the Northwest Managers Conference, happening March 30 – April 3 in Sitka, Alaska. This event is a great opportunity for professional development and networking, consider attending opportunity to connect with peers and gain insights that will strengthen your leadership.

Finally, a quick reminder: If you haven’t renewed your WCMA membership yet, please take a moment to do so. Staying current ensures you have access to resources, events, and a strong network of professionals dedicated to excellence in local government.

Thank you for your continued commitment to WCMA and to the communities you serve. Together, we’re shaping a stronger future for our profession.

Laura Philpot
WCMA Board President

Navigating State and Federal Funding: Why Starting Early (and Getting Help) Matters for Local Governments

Guest Author and Featured WCMA Sponsor: John Culton of Capitol Path Consulting

Cities and counties in Washington are being asked to do more with less at the exact moment when state and federal funding opportunities and policy changes have never been more complex. From appropriations and competitive grant programs to rapidly evolving legislative and regulatory shifts, the landscape now demands deep subject-matter knowledge, familiarity with agency processes, and the capacity to move quickly when opportunities open and close. For many organizations, especially small and mid-sized communities, it is not a lack of good projects that holds them back, it is the bandwidth and specialized expertise needed to translate local priorities into fundable proposals and to keep those projects moving through long, technical review and implementation processes.

Outside policy and funding experts can help fill that gap in a way that complements, rather than replaces local staff. These professionals not only track state and federal calendars for funding, but also monitor policy developments such as new statutory requirements, agency rules, and budget provisos that can either enable or constrain local projects. They understand how policy and budget decisions are made, how language in a bill or administrative rule can affect eligibility, and how to align local priorities with both the funding criteria and the broader policy goals that legislators and agencies are trying to advance. In practice, this can mean helping a city shape a project to fit a new program created by the Legislature, drafting comment letters on proposed rules, or identifying when a policy change might be needed to unlock funding or regulatory flexibility.

There is also value in bringing this kind of support in early, well before a state session begins or the federal appropriations process kicks off. Securing an appropriation, influencing a policy change, or winning a competitive grant is rarely something that can be done at the last minute; legislators need time to learn a project and its policy implications, agencies need time to understand its benefits, and cities need time to refine scope, matching funds, and community partnerships. Advisors who are engaged early in the cycle can help local governments develop clear, prioritized project lists, prepare background materials for legislative and agency outreach, and coordinate conversations with delegation members so that both project and policy priorities are well-positioned by the time formal requests, bill drafts, or rulemakings are underway.

As the competition for external dollars intensifies and policy continues to shift at both the state and federal levels, communities that intentionally build this kind of capacity internally, and through trusted partners will be better positioned to secure resources, deliver priority projects, and adapt to future changes. City and county leaders who are considering whether outside support might be useful are welcome to reach out to Capitol Path Consulting for an informal conversation about timing, strategy, and fit, or to connect with any other firm they already know and trust; the key is to start those discussions early enough that local project priorities and policy goals can be thoughtfully prepared and effectively represented in the state and federal processes. In short, planning ahead and engaging the right partners early can make the difference between a good project idea, policy concept, and/or a funded, successfully delivered community improvement.

WCMA is pleased to welcome David Cline as our new King County Puget Sound Senior Advisor. David brings 30 years of local government experience, most recently serving more than 12 years as City Administrator for Tukwila. His career also includes leadership roles with Lake Forest Park, Burien, and King County, giving him experience across city and county government. His work has earned state and national recognition, including WCMA’s Excellence in Municipal Leadership Award and ICMA’s Community Equity and Inclusion Award.

In his letter of interest for the position, David shared: “I have been well served by many Senior Advisors throughout my own career such as Ron Bartells, Anne Pflug, Marilynne Beard, Lloyd Halverson and Andrew Neiditz. They not only provided support and advice along the way, they became good friends.  I hope to continue their legacy of service above self to others in this profession.”

A past WCMA President and active ICMA member, David is passionate about professional local government and its ability to create lasting, positive change in communities. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, tandem bicycling, traveling, and playing board games. We are thrilled to have David supporting WCMA members in this new role. Learn more about the Senior Advisor program and how to connect with them on the WCMA Website.

WCMA Accepting Applications for Eastern Washington Senior Advisor

The Washington City/County Management Association (WCMA) is soliciting letters of interest for a Senior Advisor position from qualified applicants throughout the state. WCMA has a current vacancy in the Eastern Washington area, and applicants from this area are especially encouraged to apply. Others are encouraged to express interest at this time for consideration for future vacancies.

Senior Advisors must:

• Be a resident of Washington at the time of appointment.
• Have at least ten years’ experience as an appointed chief administrative officer (CAO) and/or an assistant/deputy CAO in local government.
• Have a willingness to actively participate in the program for the duration of the appointment.
• Have a commitment to follow the outline of responsibilities for Senior Advisors and the ICMA Senior Advisor Program Guidelines and Manual.
• Be a member of ICMA and the WCMA at time of appointment and to maintain such memberships during service as a Senior Advisor.
• Have an active phone number and email address.
• Not be engaged in consulting work that includes the responsibility for soliciting business or for client development/maintenance for purposes of future business.

Statements of interest can be submitted to Aimy Enriquez by email at aenriquez@mrsc.org and should include a resume and letter of interest. A

For more information please visit ICMA’s Senior Advisor web page.

Leadership Transitions

Congratulations to these individuals who’ve recently been appointed to top manager or administrator positions in the following communities:

Laura McAloon was appointed City Administrator in the City of Chelan in November 2025 and started work in January. Laura comes to Chelan with more than two decades of municipal executive and legal experience, serving local governments across multiple states. She most recently served at the City Administrator for Grand Island, Nebraska. She began her legal career in Spokane in 2000 and focused exclusively on representing local governments as city attorney and bond counsel over the next 18 years including serving as the City Attorney for Pullman and  general counsel to the Spokane Transit Authority since 2003.  She served the City of Spokane and multiple other Washington and Idaho local governments as bond counsel until relocating to Nebraska in 2022.  Laura is thrilled to be back in the Pacific Northwest and leading the team for the City of Chelan.  She holds a Juris Doctorate along with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Paralegal Studies.

Ken Klein was confirmed by the City of Snohomish as their new City Administrator in January 2026. Ken is coming to Snohomish from being a top-level executive within County Executive Dave Somers’ cabinet. There, he had oversight of nine departments, including public works, planning, finance, and the county prosecutor’s office.

Paul Simmons was appointed Tumwater’s new City Administrator in January 2026. He brings more than 30 years in public service to the role. Most recently, he has been the Director of Business Administration and Planning for Metro Parks Tacoma, where he oversaw Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, Planning, and Marketing and Communications. He previously served as Olympia’s Parks, Arts and Recreation Director and Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Cheney.

Rachel Shaw was appointed City Administrator for the City of Prosser in January 2026, bringing to the role nearly 20 years of dedicated service to the community. Rachel began her career with the City of Prosser in 2006 as an Executive Assistant and has steadily advanced through roles of increasing responsibility, including City Clerk and Deputy City Administrator. Throughout her career, Rachel has built deep institutional knowledge and strong relationships across the organization and community. She holds a deep understanding of the city’s operations, values, and priorities, as well as a strong dedication to public service.

A reminder of why those of us in this profession love what we do. Read more in this ICMA Article – 10 Reasons to Love and Honor City/County Management | icma.org

Leadership Team Meetings Survey

WCMA is partnering with Una McAlinden of Creative Strategy Solutions on the first statewide study of leadership team meetings. The 10-minute, confidential survey helps advance best practices in decision-making and collaboration.

Participants receive a regional benchmarking report, and cities with 50%+ leadership team participation will receive a confidential, customized dashboard benchmarking their results statewide. If you haven’t already, take the survey now. 

Thank you for contributing to this groundbreaking research.

2026 WCMA Membership Renewal Season is Here!

The new year is here, and we encourage members to renew their WCMA membership for 2026 if you haven’t already. Our 2026 membership packages and rates are available on the WCMA website. Thank you for your continued support of WCMA!

Save the Date

• NW Managers Conference - Harrigan Centennial Hall, Sitka, Alaska. March 30 - April 3, 2026. Our neighbors to the north have a planned a conference full of deep learning that features the beauty of Alaska. Learn more.
  
  
• NWWLA Women’s Leadership Summit - Puget Sound Region - May 1. Registration is open now (see image to the right)!
  
  
• A Day with ICMA - Issaquah - June 17, 2026. Registration is open now.
  
  
• WCMA Summer Conference - Three Rivers Convention Center, Kennewick, WA - August 11 - 14, 2026