Working together—role of the city administrator

The mayor is the city's chief executive officer, charged with carrying out the policies set by the council and seeing that local laws are enforced. The mayor is ultimately in charge of the operation of the City (RCW 35A.12).

The city administrator is appointed by the mayor and performs tasks within the statutory authority of the mayor. The city administrator oversees the day-to-day operation of the city, including budget implementation and staff supervision.

Paul Simmons, city administrator

Paul Simmons joined the City in January 2026.  With more than 30 years in
public service, Simmons brings deep municipal experience and a long track record of leadership in local and regional government. 

Simmons brings a wide breadth of familiarity with government administration, including work with county and city governments, nonprofit organizations, military bases, universities and parks.   

He previously served as Olympia’s Parks, Arts and Recreation Director from 2013–2025. Most recently, he has been the Director of Business Administration and Planning for Metro Parks Tacoma, where he oversaw Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, Planning, and Marketing and Communications.

“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,” said Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff.  

Meet the mayor

Role of the mayor

Role of the council

About the City Attorney's Office

The city attorney provides legal support to the city council, mayor, city administrator, and all departments. The City Attorney’s Office represents the interests of the public as a whole and does not represent individuals. The office is strictly prohibited from providing any legal advice and representation to residents in any matter, whether it is civil or criminal. Individuals must retain private counsel for legal assistance or be provided with a public defender.

The Tumwater City Attorney’s Office can be reached at (360) 754-4121.