Issaquah Picks Chicago-Area Candidate As New City Administrator

ISSAQUAH, WA — The Issaquah City Council on Monday night unanimously approved Mayor Mary Lou Pauly's pick to take over the city administrator role. Wally Bobkiewicz, the city manager of Evanston, Ill., will come to Issaquah having weathered a few controversies.

Pauly nominated Bobkiewicz for the job on Friday after she interviewed 29 candidates and held public meetings with some of them. The city manager of Tigard, Ore., was a semifinalist along with Bobkiewicz.

"I am excited to be bringing Wally on in this role. I have seen the positive outcomes in his current community and am confident he is a great match for Issaquah," Pauly said in a statement Monday night after the Council's 6-0 vote to approve Bobkiewicz, with Councilman Paul Winterstein absent.

In an email exchange with Patch, Pauly addressed a few controversies Bobkiewicz has been involved in.

"I take allegations very seriously. During this search process, I have worked with our team to do our homework on each candidate, including comprehensive background checks. Allegations are not uncommon for executive level positions, and City settlements are not necessarily an admission of wrongdoing. These types of settlements are often made to save taxpayers from footing a larger legal bill," the mayor said.

Pauly could have been referencing a $500,000 federal racial discrimination settlement involving a former director of Evanston's public works department, the $1.25 million settlement to resolve a former Northwestern University police misconduct and civil rights claims after he was forcefully arrested on suspicion of stealing his own car, a $1.25 million settlement to a choral director who was seriously injured after Evanston police chased a car into Chicago for a minor traffic offense. But the mayor said no particular instance stood out for most concerned residents.

"I recognize that this decision will be one of the most significant decisions I will make in my first term. The City Administrator has such a key role in providing support to our elected Council, managing our operations and assisting the Mayor and the community towards achieving our shared vision for a complete, vibrant and sustainable community," Pauly said in her statement Monday night.

Bobkiewicz is downsizing in his move to Issaquah. Evanston sits on the northern border with Chicago, has about 75,000 residents, and an annual budget of $300 million. By comparison, Issaquah has about 40,000 residents, and the city won't be connected to Seattle by light rail until 2041.

Bobkiewicz will replace former city administrator Emily Moon, whose last day was Friday. She resigned to spend time traveling with her family. He will start in the new job at the end of September.

Patch editor Jonah Meadows contributed to this report