Political Buzz - Tacoma's longtime public works director takes post in Sumner

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Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

Tacoma's longtime public works director takes post in Sumner

Posted by Jason Hagey @ 12:39:49 pm

Bill Pugh joins Diane Supler, Tacoma's former budget director, at Sumner City Hall. Supler is Sumner's deputy city administrator.

This from my colleague Mike Archbold:

The City of Sumner has hired recently retired Tacoma assistant city manager and public works director Bill Pugh to be Sumner’s public works director.

Pugh is taking over for longtime Sumner public works director Bill
Shoemaker, who is retiring May 21.

Pugh was recruited by the city for the job. His salary will be $107,856.

“Bill Pugh brings a huge level of talent and experience to Sumner,” Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow said in a press release. “ Frankly, hiring him is a great opportunity and I’m very proud ‘little old Sumner’ could do it.”

City Administrator John Doan noted: “Bill recently sponsored a program called Community Based Services: staff from different
departments got together with the community to address their needs. This kind of initiative really matches well with Sumner’s mission and vision.”

In announcing his retirement in September, Pugh, who worked for the City of Tacoma for 33 years, said he planned to continue working.
“I’m too young to not be doing anything,” he said.

Pugh is out of town and couldn’t be reached.

Pugh will head a Sumner Department with 34 employees. As Tacoma public works director he directed 900 employees. Last year he was recognized as one of the top 10 public works leaders by the American Public Works 2007 National Congress.

Throughout his career, Pugh was responsible for the operations of the Tacoma Dome and Cheney Stadium, worked to attract investment in the city and establish Tacoma as a destination city, and partnered with the Tacoma School District to develop an environmental education program.

Categories: Tacoma, Suburbs

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