Submitted by Don Anderson.
As I approach the end of 16 years on the Lakewood City Council, including nine years as mayor, I just want to say thank you to the residents of Lakewood for giving me the opportunity to serve. Prominent in the “dadisms” that our four daughters repeatedly endured while growing up were, “You need to pick up more than you drop” and “Leave the trail cleaner than you found it.” Service is a core value we all should share. I have always strived to balance the interests of all of our residents with the goal of making Lakewood an even better place to live for everyone. As I walk in to the proverbial sunset, I hope my pack is full of problems solved and the trail is cleaner than when I started this journey. Thanks again.
I have worked with Don in many of his roles in life: as a volunteer, as a Lakewood City Council member and for the past 7 years as a co-worker in the Pierce County Executive Office. Don takes the long view, balances a confluence of interests so that everyone wins, and USUALLY keeps his temper while doing so. He has done a magnificent job working with leadership at Joint Base Lewis McChord. Thank you, sir.
Heart and vision are standards you brought to task, inscribed in aspiration for community and leave behind for others to carry forward. For all the appreciations unsaid over your years of service, THANK YOU.
I thanked our city manager John Caulfield, the other day for doing a great job keeping Lakewood a liveable community, despite the decline all around us.
He said it wasn’t easy.
I took that to be an understatement.
Thank you Don and the rest of city leadership for your hard work and dedication to our quality of life.