Newsletter - Summer 2025

President's Message

Hello all!

Summer has definitely arrived in our state as I write this message. I hope you all are finding ways to stay cool as the summer heat rolls in.

I know that summer is often busier than normal for us, with vacations and other commitments in our personal lives added to the packed work schedules we all keep. In addition, this edition of the WCMA newsletter includes some very important information, so I will be keeping this message short.

You recently received an email announcing the opening of registration for the 2025 Summer WCMA Conference. Please plan to join us in Walla Walla August 12-15. Our theme this year is “CROSSROADS & CATALYSTS: LEADING THROUGH UNCERTAINTY”. My thanks for the hardworking Conference Planning Committee, co-chaired by Katrina Knutson and Leslie Harris, for the work they’ve put in to bring us a meaningful and impactful conference! If you haven’t yet renewed your WCMA membership for the current year, it’s a great time to do that in advance of your conference registration.

We will soon be opening the ballot for the 2025-2026 Board of Directors. The nominating committee recently met and forwarded to the Board the slate of candidates for this year. I’m thrilled to say we have a strong group of nominees, and I thank all those who stepped forward for their willingness to serve!

At our meeting on Wednesday, June 25, the board voted unanimously to welcome Torie Brazitis, County Administrator of Kitsap County. Torie assumes the board seat vacated by Mike Rizzitiello. For those that may not have heard yet, Mike has accepted the position of Development Services Director for the City of Richland, and resigned his seat on the board effective Friday, June 27, his last day in College Place. I would like to warmly welcome Torie to the board, and to thank Mike for his years of service as a City Administrator in Colfax and College Place, and on the board!

As always, my sincere thanks to Melanie Harding and the team at MRSC. They provide such amazing support to WCMA, much of which goes unseen. While you often see Melanie and her team at the conference, they provide a great deal of behind-the-scenes logistical support there, and throughout the year, including bringing this newsletter to you. We couldn’t do it without them.

I can’t wait to see everyone in Walla Walla!

Rich Huebner
President

Formation of WCMA Veterans Advisory Committee

At the WCMA 2024 Summer Conference, the board unanimously voted to create and recognize a Veterans Advisory Committee for Washington State. We’re pleased to announce that Tyler Christian (Sultan City Administrator) and Leslie Harris (Bonney Lake Assistant to the City Administrator) have agreed to serve as liaisons and assist with the committee’s formation. We’re actively seeking veterans interested in participating with the Advisory Committee. If you are a veteran and would like to be involved, we encourage you to consider joining.

Background

In 2020, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) established its own Veterans Advisory Committee. The mission: to enhance local government through the inclusion of veterans who bring passion, skills, and knowledge to public service. Today, the ICMA committee includes 59 members from across the country, including two from Washington State: Regan Bolli (Covington Manager) and Andrew Hamilton (Kelso Manager).

Purpose of the Veterans Advisory Committee (ICMA)

• Raise the visibility of municipal government as a career among active-duty military personnel
• Build awareness of the skills and knowledge veterans bring to the profession
• Develop and improve ICMA’s veterans programs and services
• Increase the talent pool of future local government managers by attracting qualified veterans
• Strengthen relationships between the veteran community and local governments

Next Steps

Once committee members are identified, a Zoom meeting will be scheduled to discuss structure and officer roles. Most meetings will be held virtually, with an in-person gathering planned for the WCMA Summer Conference.

Interested in Joining?

For more information or to express interest in joining, please contact:

• Regan Bolli (Covington Manager) – rbolli@covingtonwa.gov
• Andrew Hamilton (Kelso Manager) – andrewh@kelso.gov

We look forward to sharing more about the committee and connecting in person at the WCMA Summer Conference in August.

Ever Been Labeled a “Lazy Bureaucrat”? Here’s Something You Can Do About It

Guest Author & Featured WCMA Sponsor: Mark Freise of Rep’d

Local governments work tirelessly to improve life for residents. Yet, public trust remains near historic lows. Too often, municipal staff are seen not as dedicated public servants, but as inefficient or unresponsive. Why?

This decline in trust didn’t happen overnight. In the early 1900s, during the Progressive Era, governments were widely viewed as trusted problem-solvers. But over time, that narrative shifted—from Reagan-era rhetoric to pop culture stereotypes—casting government as bloated and out of touch. The “lazy bureaucrat” myth took hold, and social media now amplifies it with every complaint or viral outrage.

Residents rarely see the real work happening behind the scenes. Meanwhile, their expectations have changed. Today, they compare city services to the speed and polish of Amazon—expectations that local governments are rarely resourced to meet.

The problem isn’t effort—it’s visibility.

So how can municipal leaders rebuild trust?

It’s not just about better digital services or larger comms teams. It’s about storytelling. And video is the medium best suited for the modern (read: short) attention span. Specifically, meeting residents where they are with short, authentic, human-centered videos—60–90 second updates that highlight staff, explain decisions, and celebrate wins. These videos cut through the noise, build empathy, and most importantly, restore trust.

“But video takes too much time.” Well, it used to. At Rep’d, we’ve built a platform that makes government video communication as easy as writing a text. Cities like Maple Valley are using Rep’d to show real people doing meaningful, thoughtful work—and residents are responding.

There’s no magic fix for the trust gap, but “humanizing” your team is a powerful first step.

I’d be glad to show you how. Visit repd.us or send me a note at mark@repd.us to learn more.

Leadership Transitions

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

Doug Russell was most recently the city manager of Kalispell, Montana and has been in that role since 2012. His prior role’s included being the town administrator of Lovell, Wyoming and serving as city manager for Arkansas City (Kansas) and Yankton (South Dakota). He brings to Lakewood experience revitalizing Kalispell’s downtown area, growing economic development, and completing parks projects. Doug graduated with Bachelors in psychology from Montana State University and an MPA from the University of Colorado at Denver. He is recognized as a Certified Manager by the International City/County Management Association, a Certified Public Finance Officer by the Government Finance Officers Association, is accredited in public relations by the Public Relations Society of America, and is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program.

Wesley Wootten was confirmed as Stevenson’s City Administrator in April 2025. He previously served as the City Manager of Wheeler, OR, where he lead municipal operations, budget development, infrastructure planning, and community engagement initiatives. He also held prior leadership roles in Communications and Policy & Community Development. Wesley holds a master’s degree in public administration from Delaware State University in Dover, DE and a bachelor’s degree in public policy and history from the University of Delaware, Newark, DE.

Kevin O’Neill was appointed as Black Diamond's new City Administrator in May 2025. A native of San Diego, California, O'Neill began his public service career as a reserve firefighter with San Diego County before transitioning into Emergency Management with a rural county in California. He went on to earn a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University and joined the City of Woodinville, Washington, where he served for more than five years, initially as Assistant to the City Manager and then as Assistant City Manager.

Tonya Wallace started as the newly appointed City Administrator for the City of Chewelah in February. Tonya has an extensive background in direct local government service as well as in the private sector serving local governments. She recently served as the Chief Financial Officer and Administrative Division Director for the City of Spokane under Mayor Woodward and the Chief Budget Officer for Spokane County. Prior to her time in Washington, she served nearly 20 years working for the City of Boise in progressively higher management roles. Tonya’s goals include bringing organization, resiliency, and sustainability to the growing City of Chewelah.

We’re not exactly Batman and Robin, but the best manager–assistant duos share the same essentials: trust, timing, and the ability to handle chaos without needing to say a word. ASSISTANTS AND DEPUTIES: Strong Duos Make Strong Communities | icma.org

Save the Date

Annual OR-WA Networking Dinner: October 27, 2025,  Tampa, FL
Join OCCMA and WCMA for our annual joint networking dinner.

WCMA Summer Conference: August 12-15, 2025, Walla Walla, WA
Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center, Walla Walla, WA