LYNNWOOD — The Lynnwood City Council confirmed Mayor Don Gough’s appointment of Lorenzo Hines as the city’s next finance director. The 6-1 vote was taken Monday night.
“We are wonderfully lucky to have an applicant of his quality,” Council President Mark Smith said of Hines. “And we are fortunate to find him before our interim finance director leaves.”
The position was left vacant in March 2010 when John Moir unexpectedly resigned after a clash with the council. He had served the city since January 2008. A former city finance director, Patrick Dugan has filled the slot as interim finance director and had earlier announced his plans to leave in late March.
“The defining moment for me was when Mr. Dugan characterized Mr. Hines as a true leader,” said Councilwoman Kerri Lonegran-Dreke.
Hines worked in Edmonds with Kimberly Cole, who is a Lynnwood councilwoman and the Edmonds mayor’s senior executive assistant.
She said, “I was pleasantly surprised to see him in the applicant pool. He is professional and accurate. This is a good moment for Lynnwood, confirming the mayor’s work.”
Councilman Loren Simmonds cast the only dissenting vote.
Hines has been Edmonds finance director since then-Mayor Gary Haakenson appointed him in 2009.
Last November, Hines filed a harassment complaint against Edmonds councilmembers Diane Buckshnis and Michael Plunkett. An independent investigator determined that while no state or federal laws were broken, there is a degree of “rude or uncivil conduct” between the two council members and Hines.
Also at Monday’s meeting, the confirmation of Gough’s nominee for human resources department director was held up because of a procedural process.
The mayor wants to appoint Paula Itaoka. She has held the position of acting human resources director since December 2009 following the death of Robin Hall, the department’s head.
Councilman Ted Hikel pointed out that the city’s municipal code process was not followed and that, despite Itaoka’s experience, she should be formally interviewed by council.
That motion passed, 4-3.
Itaoka’s confirmation is scheduled to be revisited March 14.
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