Lakewood Mayor Don Anderson Will Not Seek Reelection

LAKEWOOD, WA — Lakewood Mayor Don Anderson has announced that he will not seek reelection in January.

At the end of the Lakewood City Council's regularly-scheduled meeting Monday, Anderson announced that he would be stepping down from the position of mayor, but that he would continue to serve the final two years of his term as a member of the 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," Anderson said. "That’s still a record, as far as I know. I never intended to become the oldest, and I’m not going to."

Anderson has served on Lakewood City Council in Position 4 since back in January 2008, and as mayor since 2013. Before that, he served as Board President of Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region, President of the Puyallup School District Board and as a Board Member of Tacoma Rotary #8, according to his biography from the City of Lakewood.

In his announcement, Anderson revealed that it had always been his intention to end his career this term, a decision that was reaffirmed when most of his colleagues were re-elected in the fall general election.

"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," Anderson said. "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."

As for his decision to remain on the council, Anderson cited his predecessor Bill Harrison, the first Mayor of Lakewood, who also stepped down from the position but retained his seat on the council through the remainder of its term.

"It won’t be me in January, but I’ll still be here," Anderson said. "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."

Anderson has also endorsed Deputy Mayor Jason Whalen as a potential successor once he steps down.