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Kurt Triplett Starts June 28 as Kirkland’s City Manager

By on June 15, 2010 in Archived, Featured Slideshow, Government, Headlines


The Kirkland City Council approved an employment agreement and officially appointed Kurt Triplett as Kirkland’s new City Manager.  At its June 15 regular meeting, the City Council unanimously approved the resolution that sets forth the contract terms and conditions.  Triplett will begin with Kirkland on June 28, 2010 and will be paid $174,000 per year, subject to a 3.4% temporary salary reduction currently in effect in 2010 for all management and other City employees.  The contract expires in 2015.

“His experience and leadership style make him a great fit for the organization and community” notes Mayor Joan McBride.

“I know through my personal and professional experiences with Kirkland that it is an exceptional community supported by amazingly active neighborhoods and successful schools,” states Triplett.  “I’m honored to be named Kirkland’s City Manager and look forward to working with the Council, staff and community to keep Kirkland great.”

The City Manager administers and manages the City according to the mission, policies and guidelines adopted by the City Council.  Triplett will oversee the operations of ten departments and will be director of the City Manager’s Office (CMO).  CMO programs include neighborhood services, legislative advocacy, council relations, economic development, public information, tourism and the volunteer program.

Triplett served as King County’s Interim County Executive (2009), Chief of Staff to County Executive Ron Sims (2003-2009), Deputy Director of King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks (1998-2002), and Deputy Chief of Staff under Ron Sims and Gary Locke.    Triplett has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government (2003) and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Stanford University (1989).  Triplett currently lives in Seattle with his wife and three children.

To view the City Council meeting video, go to www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/depart/council/Watch_Council_Meetings (Select June 15, 2010 meeting).

About Rob Butcher

Editor and Scribbler of Kirkland Views.
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  • Rlstyle

    Mr. Triplett’s credentials

    There is something illogical in the Council’s thinking when they hired Mr. Triplett for City Manager. Supposedly, his credentials made him qualified for the job. If so, his credentials did nothing to keep the county out of trouble. We can expect the same. He was just a rubber stamp who used his extensive training to be a yes man regardless of the consequences to the general public. He will give in to Council. He will be getting paid for something he or we don’t need, yet another yes man that advises Council on things like annexation that put us into greater debts, that locked doors and removed trash cans, that reduced our police coverage and response times, that pays outside agencies three times more than what we receive in benefits, that did not allow us an advisory vote on annexation, and that has yet to show he’s committed to putting Kirkland first. If the action of King County Council reflects his advice, we are in trouble.

    It didn’t take many credentials just to rubber stamp King County Council decisions. If so, he is overqualified for the job and getting paid too much for what he will do. He will become a “yes” man in Kirkland supposedly presenting only those sides of issues that Council wants to hear. That does not too many qualifications. It does require an unbreakable nose.

    It will be the City Manager’s job to implement Council decisions, decisions based on what they are told by staff. If so, he will be working for staff, not the citizens. Why hire someone who only uses unnecessary skills if the only thing he will do is to rubber stamp decisions.

    Bob Style

  • http://kirklandviews.com Rob Butcher

    Hi Bob,
    While I understand you are frustrated by many actions taken by the city in the past, I don't understand how you can prejudge how our new city manager will act before he has spent day one on the job. Let's hope for the best, give the man a chance to prove himself a worthy public servant and give him the respect we would wish to have if we were in his shoes.
    I welcome Mr.Triplett to Kirkland and I wish him all the best in his job. Lord knows we have many difficult issues ahead of us and let us hope he does well at his new job.
    Might I suggest you give him a chance before judging him? It sounds like many of your concerns have to deal with process and how decisions are made at City Hall rather than the individuals involved the process.
    Thank you for your comments.