Tacoma City Manager James L. Walton marked the end of his 33-year career as a public servant yesterday with his retirement. Walton has served the citizens of Tacoma as Human Rights Director, Assistant City Manager, and Deputy City Manager, prior to being appointed to the position of City Manager in July 2003.

Walton is very active in the Tacoma community. A resident of the city’s East Side, he will chair the United Way of Pierce County campaign in 2005 and he also currently serves on the boards of Safe Streets, Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, Goodwill Industries and the Elizabeth Wesley Scholarship Foundation. In addition, he is Past President of the Tacoma Empowerment Consortium and has actively participated with the Tacoma-Pierce County Black Collective (formerly the Minority Concerns Task Force) for more than 20 years.

Walton is the recipient of several awards and commendations for his service to the community, which include the Tacoma-Pierce County Municipal League’s Distinguished Citizen Award, Tacoma Empowerment Consortium’s Distinguished Service Award, Tacoma Urban League Distinguished Citizen Award, Tacoma–Pierce County Black Collective Award, 1999 and 2004 Washington City/County Management Association’s Excellence in Leadership Award, and the Spine Award, a local recognition by the Backbone Campaign.

Tacoma’s Hearing Examiner Rod Kerslake will fill in as Acting City Manager from July 1-14 in the interim until the new City Manager, Eric Anderson, starts on July 15. Anderson was chosen by the City Council as the next City Manager last month.