Inquiry of the Week (9/28/98)

Question:

How many cities and towns in Washington have created a city or town administrator position?

Answer:

First, it is important to note that the term "city or town administrator" is not universal. The essential functions of such a person might also fall under the following titles:

• Administrative Assistant
• Administrative Assistant to the Mayor
• City Administrator
• City Superintendent
• City Supervisor
• Executive Assistant
• Executive Assistant to the Mayor
• Operations Director/Chief of Staff
• Town Administrator

A growing number of mayor-council cities have begun adding a new professional position of city administrator or chief administrative officer (CAO) in the mayor's office. CAO's serve under the mayor and assist with the mayor's administrative and policy-related responsibilities. In theory, the appointment of a CAO frees the mayor from the need to attend to administrative details and allows the mayor to focus greater attention on policy development and political leadership roles.

The 1998-99 Directory of Washington City & Town Officials was consulted. In some situations there is a question as to whether the position is actually that of a city or town administrator, or a position with a much more limited role such as a street or utilities supervisor. In those cases, the city or town's ordinance was examined to determine whether the position indeed fit the proper category.

There are 81 cities or towns with a city or town administrator or equivalent. They are: