Shoreline City Manager Debbie Tarry announces retirement

Shoreline City Manager announces retirement
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline

Shoreline City Manager Debbie Tarry announced her retirement to City Council earlier today. 

Tarry, who has served as City Manager since 2014, will retire on November 2, 2022.

Tarry leaves a long legacy of exceptional leadership after serving the City in various capacities since 2000. 

She was appointed Shoreline City Manager in January of 2014 after serving as Shoreline’s Interim City Manager for the previous three months. 

Before taking on that position, Tarry was Shoreline’s Assistant City Manager from 2011 to 2013, and the City’s Finance Director from 2000 to 2011.

“Over half of my career has been in Shoreline and it has been an honor and a privilege to serve the City for over 22 years, the last nine as City Manager,” stated Tarry. 

“I would like to thank this and past City Councils for entrusting me with the opportunity and the obligation of helping to lead this wonderful City. 

"I would also like to express my appreciation to the residents of Shoreline for their participation and support in so many City endeavors and projects. Finally, I would like to thank all the employees of the City. One of the true joys of serving the City of Shoreline has been working with such a great staff.”

The City Council will work with an executive search firm to conduct a nationwide search for the next city manager. The goal will be to have a new city manager selected before Tarry retires in November to ensure there is a smooth transition in administration.

Throughout her tenure at Shoreline, Tarry has been intimately involved in most of the critical decisions the City has faced over the past 22 years. 

From the Aurora Corridor improvements to climate action and sustainability; from light rail station area planning to sidewalks and transportation infrastructure improvements; and from expanding the City’s human services efforts to building an anti-racist community, Tarry has always worked to build a better community for Shoreline residents.

“Debbie leaves a legacy at the City of Shoreline that we can all be proud of,” stated Shoreline Mayor Keith Scully. 

“Under her steady leadership the City has weathered a pandemic and accomplished a great deal, the impacts of which will be felt for decades to come. We have been fortunate to have Debbie with the City for so long. It has been a great pleasure working with her and I congratulate her on her retirement.”

Before coming to Shoreline, Tarry worked for 18 years with other governmental agencies including as the Finance Director for the City of Mill Creek and the Administrative Services Director for LINK Transit. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Pacific Lutheran University. Tarry has been a Shoreline resident for the past eight years but will be moving to Tacoma to be closer to family.