Lakewood Deputy Mayor Claudia Thomas is Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg’s choice to fill a Sound Transit board vacancy.
The appointment is subject to Pierce County Council confirmation.
“Lakewood is the count’s second largest city, and its Sounder station is in the final stages of planning. Lakewood has been represented on the board since Sound Transit’s inception and that should continue,” Ladenburg said.
“I am confident that Claudia Thomas will prove to be an effective and valuable board member.”
Thomas would succeed Lakewood Councilmember Ann Kirk Davis, who lost her bid for re-election in the Nov. 6 general election and will be ineligible for Sound Transit board service effective Jan. 1.
Lakewood Mayor Bill Harrison and the Lakewood City Council assisted Ladenburg in Thomas’ selection. She was elected to the council in 1995 and re-elected in 1999.
Pierce County’s Sound Transit board delegation also includes Vice Chair David Enslow of the Sumner City Council, Tacoma Deputy Mayor Kevin Phelps and Ladenburg.
Thomas retired as an educator in 1994 after a 42-year career as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent.
She spent 19 years with the Kent School District and the final 11 years with the Bremerton School District. She serves as an educational management consultant.
She earned a doctorate in organizational development and management at The Union Institute in San Francisco in 1979; a master’s degree in administration at Seattle University in 1974, and her undergraduate degree from Bennett College, Greensboro, N.C. in 1952.