Remarks by Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg after being sworn in Wednesday evening (1-3-01) by Supreme Court Justice Gerry Alexander at the Sheraton Tacoma Hotel:
This past Monday was New Year's Day. Not just any New Year's day, but the new year of a new decade, a new century and a new millennium. The number of the date itself says it all, 01-01-01.
We come together here tonight to celebrate another new beginning. A new beginning for Pierce County.
During the 20 years that we have had our charter form of government, much has changed. The county has grown in population more than 50 percent. New cities have been formed and joined the existing governmental organizations. New employers have emerged in the high-tech industry than didn't even exist 20 years ago. Old businesses have moved on or closed. New educational institutions have emerged like the University of Washington Tacoma. New state laws have mandated changes like growth management, environmental protection, salmon recovery and water resources management. Today most of our citizens live in an incorporated city; 20 years ago less than half did.
Much has changed in the past 20 years. It is time for Pierce County government to change to meet these new challenges.
During my campaign I spoke with thousands of the citizens of this county. They told me time and again that they want government to get together and solve the problems of the county in a unified fashion. Citizens have sent us the message that the days of provincialism and blame shifting are over. A new century brings with it a new attitude.
Tonight, right here, I am signing and issuing my first proclamation as county executive. That proclamation is that I hereby declare a peace treaty with the City of Lakewood and with every other city in this county. I proclaim that a new era has dawned and that it will be an era of cooperation. Tonight I am happy to say that we are officially at peace.
I pledge that Pierce County will become an agent of cooperation, a government that will strive to help make this county a better place for every citizen, those within a city and those outside. Pierce County government will seek to unite with city governments to find what we can jointly do for our citizens. We will recognize that all residents of Pierce County are our concern. We will speak of Pierce County citizens who happen to live in Tacoma, not Tacoma residents and Pierce County residents.
Cooperation is also a good thing at home. Therefore, we will institute a new era of cooperation with the Pierce County Council and with the courts. We will begin regular briefing meetings with the council and insure that the council and its staff have new and unhindered access to information from county departments. Departments will coordinate with council committees on a regular basis.
There are many county employees here tonight. I want to say something to them. This new attitude of cooperation applies to employee relations also. I intend to be open and accessible. Any employee's problem is my problem. Later this week I intend to have a personal tour of the County Annex building so I can see the mold problems for myself and get a complete briefing for me and for Ken Madsen and Cathy Pearsall-Stipek. We will move swiftly to protect employees if there is any danger. Employee health and safety will be the number one priority, period.
I intend to make some management structure changes within the Office of the Executive. We will no longer have the four positions of executive directors to which all department heads have reported. This layer of management, which filtered information to the executive, will be eliminated. The budget cost of those positions in 2001 was expected to be $508,000. Twelve department directors will now form a new management team that will meet regularly and each will have direct access to the Office of the Executive.
The County Council has the authority under our charter to appoint the executive pro-tem. In the past the designation of an executive staff member as the deputy executive has led to confusion and usurped some of the council's authority. That position is eliminated. In its place, I have designated an executive chief of staff. That position I have entrusted to a good friend, Lyle Quasim. We are indeed lucky to have someone of his experience and talent willing to work with us.
Another announcement I wish to make is that I am appointing Paul Pastor to be Pierce County sheriff, effective immediately. Paul is extremely well qualified for the job and has my complete confidence.
Certainly, as we move into this year, more changes will be put into place. But before any change is made, we will ask the question, "How will this help create a better attitude and policy of cooperation and coordination?"
There are many pressing issues before the county. Some, however, need our immediate attention. Therefore, we will act to move them to the forefront of government action.
First, I intend to call for a Transportation Summit in Pierce County. I will ask that all the governments come together during one week to help develop a coordinated transportation plan for our county. This meeting would include the elected officials and other policy makers to formulate joint policy. It would also include the transportation staff from each government to discuss how to integrate their planning and insure an orderly process of construction. It would include the regional transportation officials from Sound Transit and Pierce Transit to help us make sure our local plans are not abrogated by regional plans. Pierce County will act as the convener of this summit, not the owner of the summit. We will simply call the meeting and help it take place; we will not try to dictate to anyone.
Second, I intend to call for a Parks and Recreation Summit in Pierce County. Recently we have experienced how our infighting has prevented moving forward on this important area. Yet, the citizens have given us a tremendous boost with the passage of the recent countywide levy. We cannot and must not retreat from this challenge. We need to bring our policy makers and our parks and recreation planning people together to make a master plan for this entire county. Citizens have given us the tools, and we need to pick them up and make a better recreation plan for the whole county. We need to make sure that each city knows the plans of each other and the plans of the county and state. We need to take that knowledge into account as we modify our plans. Of course, we have a head start with the formation of the Forward Together group, and we will work closely with them in this effort.
There are obviously other areas of interest where we can benefit from an attitude of joint planning and cooperation. Some of these will require public efforts like the above, while others we will pursue in our day-to-day business. But make no mistake; the new watchword will be cooperation. We will be constantly asking ourselves how we can work better and closer with other governments to enhance our county.
And so, we not only stand on the threshold of a new century, we witness a new beginning for Pierce County government. The beginning of an era of change, knowing that the role and character of county government must change with the times or be left behind. We willingly respond to the call of our citizens to meet these challenges with new thinking and new ideas.
I am excited about our future. Pierce County is a wonderful place to live. We can and will make it even better. My promise to you is that I will work my hardest to make the dream come true. Your pledge to me must be to join with me in the effort and insure our joint success.
Finally, I want to thank you and the voters of this county for the incredible honor of serving as your Executive. I will give it my best.
John Ladenburg
County Executive
253-798-7477
jladenb@co.pierce.wa.us
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