With dozens packed into Tumwater City Hall’s council chambers and more outside listening, the Tumwater City Council convened on Tuesday, Jan. 6, for its first regular meeting of 2026 with newly elected Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff at the helm.
First appointed as a councilor in 2018, Dahlhoff retained her councilor position in 2020 and 2024 before deciding to run for mayor last year and defeating candidate Lance Brender in the November 2025 general election after former Tumwater Mayor Debbie Sullivan retired.
Both Tumwater City Councilors Eileen Swarthout and Peter Agabi were reelected to their positions after running in November’s election unopposed, while Meghan Sullivan, a newcomer to the council, beat candidate Rachelle Martin.
To start off Tuesday’s meeting, Dahlhoff, Swarthout, Agabi and Sullivan were sworn into office by Washington Supreme Court Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud.
Following their oaths of office, the first order of business of the council was inviting up Dr. Thelma Jackson and New Life Baptist Church Reverend David Reaves to be honored and speak as the Tumwater City Council read a proclamation declaring Jan. 19 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the City of Tumwater.
Each councilor took a turn reading a part of the proclamation, before Dahlhoff ended it.
“We all urge people to join us to take this opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s vision, and rededicate ourselves to continuing to advance the principles of justice and equality for all,” Dahlhoff said.
Following the proclamation, Jackson spoke.
“Dr. King was much more than a dreamer — he was a doer. Under the most difficult of circumstances, consisting of beatings, bombings, jailings and constant harassment, he prevailed and was recognized worldwide as a transformative icon,” Dr. Jackson said. “This holiday, more than ever before in the history of our nation, it is a time to be a day on, not a day off. He deserves to be respected and revered for his contributions to this country and to the world.”
She thanked the Tumwater City Council for making the proclamation, and invited Reaves to also speak.
“I bring you greetings from the New Life Baptist Church, which is the oldest and first predominantly African American congregation in Thurston County. We’re grateful every time we have an opportunity, certainly to stand and receive this proclamation,” Reaves said, “as it is a very necessary reminder as we continue to walk through the challenges that we walk through as a nation. Dr. King reminded us that if we can’t learn to work together, as brothers and sisters, then we absolutely will perish together. And I hope we hear that message tonight.”
Reaves also invited everyone to New Life Baptist Church’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration on Jan. 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the church — located at 7838 Pacific Ave. SE in Lacey.
Following the swearing-in ceremony and proclamation, the council moved onto the regular business on its meeting’s agenda, which included selecting a new mayor pro tem.
Two nominations were made — with Agabi nominating Swarthout first, followed by Tumwater City Councilor Joan Cathey nominating Councilor Kelly Von Holtz.
The council then conducted votes on both nominations, with Von Holtz netting a bigger majority vote and winning the mayor pro tem position.
Additionally, councilors unanimously voted to hire Paul Simmons as the new city administrator, replacing former City Administrator Lisa Parks — who was one of two city employees Dahlhoff has fired and chosen to replace beginning her administration. The other was former Tumwater Police Chief Jay Mason, with Tumwater Police Deputy Chief Carlos Quiles Jr. currently serving as the department’s interim chief.
Simmons previously worked as the City of Olympia's Parks, Arts and Recreation Director from 2013 to 2025, along with being Metro Parks Tacoma's director of business administration and planning according to a City of Tumwater news release.
"Paul’s familiarity with our region, his ability to lead executive teams, secure funding, and work across departments — and his skill at telling the story of a community’s vision and turning it into action — align perfectly with what we need in this role,” Dahlhoff said in the release. "Paul’s leadership, experience, passion, and collaborative approach will be tremendous assets to the City. I am excited he is joining Tumwater and bringing his love of community and vision on maintaining a quality of life where everyone in Tumwater can thrive. Get ready for a new chapter.”
Both the city administrator and police chief positions are at-will employees, subject to serving at the will of the mayor. Simmons will start in his new position Jan. 16.
While Simmons nomination as city administrator was approved unanimously, prior to the vote Agabi did raise concerns about both Parks’ and Mason’s firings and the subsequent severance payments the city now has to make to both former employees.
Dahlhoff and Agabi got into a more heated discussion before Dahlhoff cut off Agabi’s mic and called for a 10-minute recess to the meeting.
During public comment at the meeting, several Tumwater residents also spoke out against Mason’s firing.
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders also spoke during public comment, thanking Mason for his long-time service with the Tumwater Police Department but adding he was looking forward to working with both Dahlhoff and whoever ends up being the city’s new permanent police chief.
Look for additional reporting on the Tumwater police chief and city administrator positions in the coming days.
The other order of business the council discussed was the appointment of a new councilor to the vacancy in position 1. According to city staff, seven Tumwater residents have applied for the position, and the council announced it will hold a special meeting starting at 9 a.m. this Saturday, Jan. 10, to interview and select an appointee.
The meeting will be open to the public at Tumwater City Hall, located at 555 Israel Road in Tumwater.
