John Mauro, the Port Townsend City Council’s preferred candidate for city manager, has returned a signed offer letter to the city. (Brian McLean/Peninsula Daily News)

John Mauro, the Port Townsend City Council’s preferred candidate for city manager, has returned a signed offer letter to the city. (Brian McLean/Peninsula Daily News)

City manager candidate returns signed offer letter to Port Townsend

John Mauro accepts position; contract negotiation next

PORT TOWNSEND — The city of Port Townsend is one step closer to having a new city manager.

John Mauro, the Port Townsend City Council’s preferred candidate following a months-long process, has returned a signed offer letter to lead the city, Mayor Deborah Stinson said Monday night.

“His whole family is excited for the opportunity,” Stinson said during the council’s special business meeting. “He can hardly wait to get here and start working with us.”

Mauro, originally from Maine, currently works as a chief sustainability officer in Auckland, New Zealand. He also worked in the Pacific Northwest as the director for policy, planning and government affairs for the Cascade Bicycle Club and as a policy analyst for the mayor’s office in Seattle.

“I have deep roots in the region, and my wife, young daughter and I are eager to return to the places and people we’ve missed the last few years,” Mauro wrote Tuesday via email. “I could never have anticipated the warm welcome I’ve been receiving even before arriving or signing an official contract.”

Council members did not discuss a timeline for Mauro to start, although they held a closed session Monday in order to adopt a strategy or position for professional negotiations.

“The next step is finalizing a contract,” which will come back to the council for approval, said interim City Manager Nora Mitchell, who has led the city’s finance and administrative services department.

“It will take a little time for him to get here, but once he’s here, he’s going to be fully ready to be engaged,” Stinson said.

Mauro was one of four finalists to go through an extensive interview process, which started last November with public meetings to gather input on the type of candidate the city should pursue. Once those characteristics were identified, the council hired consultant Peckham & McKenney to conduct an executive search.

All four finalists went through several rounds of interviews with separate groups last month. The groups included council members, city department heads and a peer group of community leaders and CEOs.

The finalists also took part in a public meet-and-greet event at the Port Townsend Community Center on June 18. Mauro was named the city’s preferred candidate during a special meeting the following night.

“Positive, honest and inspiring conversations with council members, staff, community task force and community members have made it truly compelling,” Mauro wrote.

“I had so much fun interacting with community members at the candidate event — I was actually the last one to leave! The commitment, capability and care shown by the community in this selection is undoubtedly an irresistible draw to the community — and it will be an invaluable asset as we work together on some of [Port Townsend’s] big challenges.”

Now that Mauro has accepted, the city will initiate a more thorough background check, including criminal and financial history, Mitchell said.

Mauro, originally from Auburn, Maine, also was a finalist for town manager in Windham, Maine, less than 30 miles south of his hometown. He has a bachelor of arts degree in environmental studies and conservation biology from Middlebury College in Vermont.

“I appreciate everyone’s patience working through the process, but I think it definitely has paid off,” Stinson said.

________

Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.

City manager candidate returns signed offer letter to Port Townsend
City manager candidate returns signed offer letter to Port Townsend
City manager candidate returns signed offer letter to Port Townsend
City manager candidate returns signed offer letter to Port Townsend

More in News

Carissa Guiley of Silverdale, left, along with daughters Mia Guiley, 5, and Evelyn Guiley, 8, peer over a rocky bluff at a sea stack in Crescent Bay on Saturday near Port Crescent. The family was on an outing at Salt Creek County Recreation Area. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
What’s over the edge?

Carissa Guiley of Silverdale, left, along with daughters Mia Guiley, 5, and… Continue reading

Examiner approves Habitat project

Wetland buffer limits size to 45 units

Sequim caps municipal funding for next year’s budget

Council members share concerns about deadlines, limits

KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
June Ward, 10, examines a wooden paddle she is decorating as her father, Jack Ward of Port Angeles, works on his own paddle during a craft-making session on Friday at the Elwha Klallam Heritage Center in Port Angeles. The paddles are among the thousands of gifts being created for participants in the 2025 Tribal Canoe Journey, hosted this year by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. The event begins with the landing of dozens of native canoes at the mouth of the Elwha River on July 31 and continues with five days of celebration on the Lower Elwha reservation west of Port Angeles. As many as 10,000 indigenous peoples are expected to take part. The public is invited to help with giftmaking sessions, scheduled daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Heritage Center.
Canoe paddle crafts

June Ward, 10, examines a wooden paddle she is decorating as her… Continue reading

Ralph Henry Keil and Ginny Grimm.
Long lost sailor to be honored at graduation

An honorary diploma will be presented to the family of… Continue reading

Singers to workshop vocal instruments at Fort Worden

One hundred and fifty singers to join together in song

Jefferson County fire danger risk level to move to high

Designation will prohibit fireworks over Fourth of July weekend

Candidate forums to be presented next week

The League of Women Voters of Clallam County and… Continue reading

Port Townsend City Council candidate forum set for next month

The League of Women Voters of Jefferson County will… Continue reading

Jefferson County to host series of community conversations

Jefferson County will conduct a series of Community Conversations… Continue reading

Denise Thornton of Sequim deadheads roses on a flower display at the Sequim Botanical Garden at the Water Reuse Demonstration Park at Carrie Blake Park on Wednesday in Sequim. Thornton, a volunteer gardener, was taking part in a work party to maintain the beauty of the garden. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Rose display

Denise Thornton of Sequim deadheads roses on a flower display at the… Continue reading