City Manager

The City Manager operates under the direction of City Council to implement the policies and goals of the Council. This includes leading City departments to provide efficient, quality service to Lakewood residents. The City Manager promotes communication between Council, employees, and citizens to resolve issues.

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About the City Manager

The City of Lakewood is a code city organized as a Council-Manager form of government. This means that Lakewood combines the leadership of City Council with the management of the City Manager. Together, they provide a balanced effort toward improving and managing Lakewood.

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About Tho Kraus

The Lakewood City Council appointed Tho Kraus as interim City Manager, stepping into the role while it conducts its search for a permanent city manager.

In addition to this leadership role, Kraus continues to serve as the city’s Chief Financial Officer, overseeing Finance, Human Resources and Information Technology.

With a focus on transparency, efficiency and service, Kraus has strengthened the city’s financial position and internal systems. Under her leadership, the city has received multiple recognitions from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), including the Triple Crown Award, a distinction awarded only to a small number of governments nationwide.

Kraus joined the City of Lakewood in October 2013 after a distinguished career with the city of Federal Way, where she spent 19 years. She previously worked for the City of Tacoma and the Clover Park School District. Kraus grew up in Lakewood and is a Clover Park High School alumnus. She graduated from the University of Washington Foster School of Business with a BA in business administration with an accounting concentration.

During this transitional period, Kraus is committed to providing stable leadership, ensuring transparency, and maintaining continued progress until a permanent city manager is appointed.