At the conclusion of the Lakewood City Council meeting on Monday, Dec. 6, Mayor Don Anderson announced that he will not seek reelection in January.
Anderson will continue to serve out the remaining two years of his term as a member of the Lakewood City Council.
On a Monday night almost exactly 50 years ago (fall of 1971), I was barely 18 and sworn into the Puyallup School Board, making me the youngest elected official in the state of Washington. That’s still a record, as far as I know. I never intended to become the oldest, and I’m not going to.
It’s been my privilege to serve the community, and for a few years, the nation, in a variety of roles over those 50 years. I’ve truly received more than I could possibly give. It’s been a special honor to serve as Lakewood’s mayor for the past 9 years. A lot has been accomplished by this council and by the City’s outstanding staff during my 14 years as a member of this body.
It’s always been my intent that this will be my last term on the City Council. More than a year ago, I came to the conclusion that this January would be a good time for transition, and the fact that the bulk of you were re-elected this fall made this a safe decision for me.
I will not step forward as a potential nominee for mayor in January. I do intend to serve the two remaining years of my council term in the mold of Bill Harrison, who did the same thing; he spent his last two years as a member of council after stepping down as mayor.
I hope that you will join me in considering our colleague Jason Whalen as my successor.
It won’t be me in January, but I’ll still be here. It’s time for Lakewood to move on and for me to start winding things down. It’s not goodbye, and I hope to be productive on the council for the next few years.
Well, it’s about time. Don Anderson is the epitome of privilege – using his wealth and position to bend or skirt the rules, whether within Lakewood or as part of the County’s executive team. He has worked very hard over the years to give the impression of integrity and doing what’s right, but he has shown the exact opposite throughout his public career. I would strongly urge the County Exec to dump Anderson from his team as well to help maintain the integrity of that office.
Yes! We agree.
I also find it problematic that he used his mayoral platform to get his daughter into the school board. It is problematic when our local governments are in each other’s pockets.
Unfortunately, I do think he will prime her up for the next mayoral run. And that is an absolute shame.
Don, thank you for your leadership and vision for the City of Lakewood. Under your guidance the city has seen many advancements and improvements such as attracting family wage jobs, street improvements, lower crime rates with a terrific police department, gathering places such as the Colonial Center Plaza, the Pavilion at Fort Steilacoom, the stance of the City with regard to the trains traveling at high speed through the city and a host of other positive accomplishments. I thank you for your leadership!
Mayor Anderson,
While we may not have agreed on every issue that came down the pike, that never meant you were always wrong and I was always right. Thus agreement or disagreement is not what I wish to speak to.
What I would like to say is, “Thank you for your 50 years of service, especially the service you have provided to my former city, Lakewood.”
I have more to say.
(1) Your critics may be right or they may be wrong, including the two critics above. I do not know the accurate truth.
What I do know is if you were announcing that you were going to run again for mayor, then I could understand citizens sharing their critical views.
The two criitics above appear to not understand what you just said. You are not running for mayor. That means the critics’ dream has come true. You are not running.
Since you are not running, I fail to see the intelligence of making hateful negative and critical comments.
(2) There have been loud comments about you supporting your daughter. What kind of human being is it that a daddy would not support his daughter. If my daughter ran for president, which is not a bad idea in that the Democrats and Republicans have not been able to find any intelligent candidates for us to choose from, I would support my daughter. Any good dad is going to support their daughter if she is attempting a lofty goal.
Any of your critics must be horrible parents if they do not support their own child.
I have more I could say, but I have to get down the pike.
Oh, one more thing. I consider Jason Whalen to be an excellent choice to follow in your, Bill Harrison’s, and Claudia Thomas’s footsteps.
Thank you Mayor Anderson for your service.
Joseph Boyle – City of Lakewood Pioneer 51 years
How about resigning from all of the positions? It was a very fishy announcement regarding “not seeking the reelection”. With this much of baggage, why not to resign and save some face? Let someone with more integrity to take the leadership over. Your legacy has been tainted and it is time to go away
Wow! Such negative and hateful comments are being directed towards our community servant, Mayor Don Anderson.
I will readily admit that I too can make critical comments regarding a politician’s behavior, positions, and opinions, but I try to focus on the issues, not the person. I try to not make hateful comments. I would only comment if there was something to influence such as voting for or not voting for a particulare candidate.
One of the things that help me is a tiny corner of my vocabulary where you can find two words. The words are moot and mute.
Moot is a word often found in a lawyer’s vocabulary. With a flair of illiteracy, some people say mute, when they mean moot.
Moot, when combined with the word “point” for “moot point” means little or no practical relevance.
Mute means the absense of sound or the absense of speech.
Don Anderson has already announced that he is not running for mayor. Thus, critical and hateful comments are really moot points (meaningless). These comments would be better off as mute points (unspoken) since they are moot points.
There is an old saying I grew up with. “No one ever kicks a dead dog.” Because Mayor Don Anderson is an achiever, he is a target for hate and discontent.
Sorry people act like that Mayor Anderson. Thanks for your service.
Joseph Boyle
Hallelujah !!!!
Mayor Anderson is an honorable man who continually has – and continues to – put the interests of Lakewood’s citizens first. In conjunction with the his fellow council members and city staff, his leadership has resulted in a better Lakewood.
On a personal note – I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity and privilege of serving with him.