VIEWFINDER: After 16 Years, LFP Says Goodbye to Mayor Dave

Lake Forest Park Mayor Dave Hutchinson, the city's longest tenured mayor, was given a grand farewell at the Lake Forest Park Civic Club, Thursday night, retiring after 50 years of government service. 

Hutchinson was given several standing ovations for his service by the nearly 200 in attendance at the event, including city staff, City Councilmembers and citizens.

Outgoing deputy mayor Dwight Thompson, who was defeated by Mary Jane Goss in the November mayoral election to replace Hutchinson after 16 years in LFP's top office, rattled off some landmark events during Hutchinson's tenure.

"Mayor Dave has been through a lot in 16 years," Thompson said. 

Thompson mentioned that Hutchinson's late wife, Fran, was there to support him when he was first elected mayor in 1996. His current significant other, Sally Nelson, a former mayor and Councilwoman in Burien, was on hand to support him Thursday night. 

Hutchinson worked with 16 different City Councilmembers, attended 576 Council meetings, managed $320 million in public money, witnessed two annexations, helped create Third Place Commons, appointed 423 citizens to commissions and committees, saw four major floods, helped draw up a plan to fix the flooding problem, oversaw a new public works yard being built, kept the city's AAA bond rating, and left the city with $6.25 million in reserves.

"He taught me patience and dignity when it comes to dealing with citizens and colleagues," Thompson said. "He's a distinguished and honorable man."

"When we made a deal it was done," Thompson added. "We looked in each other's eyes and it was done. We could trust his word."

King County Councilman Bob Ferguson also paid tribute to Hutchinson and gave him a plaque from the King County Council.

City Planning Director Steve Bennett made remarks on behalf of city staff members whose gift to the mayor would be a tree planted in his honor. Cheryl Nicolai of the police department presented a gift on behalf of the police staff members.

Before the night was over, Thompson presented Hutchinson with a portrait of the mayor painted by his daugher, Meredith.