Lakewood Deputy Mayor Announces Reelection Bid to City Council

Lakewood Deputy Mayor Don Anderson announced Monday his intention to seek reelection to the Lakewood City Council. He was elected in 2008 to position No. 4 and will seek another four-year term.

Anderson is the senior partner with the Tacoma Law Firm Eisenhower & Carlson, where fellow Lakewood Councilman Jason Whalen also works.

Anderson's decision comes during a political shift in publicly elected officials. Councilmembers and —with a combined 23 years of experience serving Lakewood—recently announced they will vacate their seats.

Thomas has served on the council since the city incorporated in 1996 and Neary will have completed eight years in January. Paul Bocchi has announced his candidacy for Neary's seat.

Two seats will become open but Anderson will be launching a campaign and is welcoming competition. The incumbent believes his law experience and long-term community involvement brings a perspective to the council that helps balance the needs of the community with the fiscal reality of a very limited budget.

"I have particularly enjoyed the opportunity to think outside of the box to offer potential solutions to issues facing the city," Anderson said.

Anderson was instrumental in developing a partnership between the city and Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit that is constructing new homes in the Tillicum neighborhood. He also was involved in the amendment to the Sound Transit agreement and the train and bus station.

Anderson said the amendment will save Lakewood nearly $500,000.

Anderson has been involved in numerous community activities. He has served as the board president of Tacoma Goodwill Industries and the Puyallup School District as well as Tacoma Rotary No. 8 and the Communities in Schools of Lakewood.

A Navy veteran, Anderson is a long-time sports official and spent nine years as a reading tutor at Tacoma's Hilltop area schools. He has been endorsed by the Lakewood Police Independent Guild and the Tacoma-Pierce County Association of Realtors.

Anderson and his wife, Nancy, a teacher, have been married for 34 years and the couple has resided in Lakewood since 1988. They have four grown daughters. For more information about Anderson, go here.