
Yakima Council Unanimously Approves Vicki Baker as New City Manager
Yakima's Vicki Baker has been named as the new Yakima City Manager. The longtime Yakima resident was chosen by the Yakima City Council as the new leader of Yakima through a series of interviews.
THE COUNCIL WAS UNANIMOUS IN VOTING FOR BAKER
The council on Tuesday voted 7-0 to install Baker as the new city leader.
Baker comes with a lot of experience in local government and business having served as a Yakima County Commissioner in 2020 and co-owner of the store Grocery Outlet at 2109 South First Street. A conservative who has served as a Republican Precinct Committee Officer Baker is a graduate of Oregon State University with a BA in Technical Journalism and a minor in Spanish.
BAKER HAS LOTS OF EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS
Baker is currently the Deputy Director of the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments but will soon resign her position. County officials say she played a key role in helping to establish the Yakima County Crime Lab located in Zillah. City officials now say staff will develop a contract for the council to consider on July 23.
THE MAYOR SAYS THE CITY IS CONFIDENT IN ITS SELECTION
In a press release from the city, Yakima Mayor Patricia Byers says the Council is excited to welcome Vicki Baker as the next Yakima city manager. "We are confident Vicki is the right person for the job. She knows the Yakima community. She has a broad range of professional experience that makes her a good fit as city manager,” said Byers. “She’s enthusiastic to get started and so is the Council.”
BAKER STARTS HER NEW JOB NEXT MONTH
Baker is set to start her job on August 8.
In January of this year, the City Council terminated the contract of Bob Harrison, who had served as Yakima city manager since September 2020. The City Council appointed Dave Zabell as interim city manager in January of 2024. He will continue to serve until Baker begins her tenure.
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