Some people seem born to lead. Others seem born to serve. And a few, like new Tumwater City Administrator Paul Simmons, seem born to do both. Exposed to service at a young age, it beckoned him into a career of leading while meeting the needs of others.
From Sixth Grade Outdoor School to the City of Tumwater
Paul Simmons interest in public service started in middle school. “In sixth grade, I had the opportunity to attend Camp Waskowitz, which is an overnight outdoor education camp operated by the Highline School District,” Paul shares. “It was the first time I had experienced psychological safety outside my home.”
He was so inspired that he returned as a camp counselor while in high school. “Serving as a counselor was so impactful, I was drawn to multiple part-time jobs in parks and recreation departments, teaching swim lessons, summer day camps, and after-school programs,” Paul says. In fact, his first real job was as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. He said the job allowed him to combine two of his favorite things, swimming and connecting with people.
In college, Paul earned a degree in recreation management because he felt it aligned perfectly with his passions and the jobs he had held up to that point. After college, he has held several positions in parks and recreation settings, including serving as the City of Olympia’s Parks, Arts and Recreation director from 2013 to 2025, and the director of Business Administration and Planning for Metro Parks Tacoma.
While at Olympia’s Parks, Arts and Recreation, Paul says the passage of the Olympia Metropolitan Parks District (OMPD) in 2015 set the stage for everything else. “The Olympia Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department was hit extremely hard during the great recession. The first sense of rebounding from the recession took root when the OMPD was established,” he adds. “The voter-approved funding has been transformational for the Olympia Parks, Arts, and Recreation system over the last 10 years, and they have been rebuilding the park system from the inside out, while also acquiring land and expanding parks to meet the demands of future growth.”
Pual notes that some of the projects residents and visitors would notice include the opening of the LBA Park and Woods; the Yelm Highway Community Park; creation of spray grounds and dog parks; the seasonal ice rink; and expanding the park ranger and volunteer program, to name a few.
Public service has always felt natural to Paul, who says these different jobs – and the people he has met because of them – over the decades have definitely shaped who he is as a person, as well as a leader.
New Tumwater City Administrator
Now, Paul is embarking on a brand-new service adventure as the City of Tumwater’s city administrator. His first day was January 16, 2026. “I am humbled and honored to have been selected to serve in this role, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can collectively accomplish together as a community,” he says.
Paul was drawn to the position partly because of the people who would be getting to work with, and partly because of his family ties to the city. “My family is my world,” he shares. “Our kids have grown up in the Tumwater School District, and this is the place we call home and have decided to raise our family. My wife also works in Tumwater, very close to City Hall, and the opportunity to serve in this role has felt more like a homecoming for me.”
He is looking forward to working with the Mayor and City Council to understand their vision and get to work. He is bringing with him his high-energy, action-oriented leadership style. “It is also a style that is grounded in relationships and trust,” Paul adds. “My focus is to work with all staff to build a culture that allows people to thrive and show up as the best versions of themselves. If we take care of our people, they will take care of our community.”
As the one of the fastest growing cities in the region, Paul believes the City of Tumwater has some unique challenges and opportunities and he is excited to get started. “I think one of the most pressing challenges ahead for Tumwater is to strike a balance of embracing growth and the opportunities it presents, while simultaneously protecting the very thing that makes Tumwater such a special community,” he shares. “The Mayor’s top two priorities are advancing redevelopment of the old Olympia Brewery and DOT properties on Capitol Way and maintaining that unique rural-urban lifestyle we enjoy in Tumwater.”
Keep up on Paul’s work by following the City of Tumwater on Facebook and checking the City of Tumwater website for news.
