City Manager - John Mauro

The Council-Manager form of government
The City of Port Townsend is a Council-Manager form of government. This system of local government combines the strong political leadership of elected officials in the form of a governing body (the City Council), with the strong managerial experience of an appointed local government manager (the City Manager). Among many others, the Washington cities of Yakima, Vancouver, Sequim, Port Angeles, Tacoma, Bellevue, and Olympia use this form of government.

What does a City Manager do?
Appointed by the City Council, the City Manager serves as chief executive officer of the City. The City Manager is responsible for the preparation of the City’s annual budget, and enforcement and implementation of all laws, policies, and services of the City. The City Manager also directs, allocates and organizes the City’s resources, staff, and operations; oversees the development and implementation of all policy and program initiatives; and manages media, public and partner relations and community engagement.

Why does John love working for Port Townsend?
John says: “I love this community: it’s a creative, engaged, beautiful, inspiring, and unique community. I love the City team: they are dedicated public servants who want to collaborate, to serve and to build a better future for us all. I love this job: it’s dynamic, exciting, fulfilling, challenging, and full of surprises. I love working in this place, for this community, and with my team - it’s a real privilege to serve.”   

About City Manager John Mauro
John spent nearly seven years in New Zealand, serving as the first Chief Sustainability Officer in Auckland, a city of 1.7 million. Part positive champion, part incessant critic of the largest council in Australasia, John and his team provided thought leadership and drove strategic change for a more sustainable and resilient Auckland. Their key focus was the development of an integrated, inclusive and innovative climate action plan with broad multi-sector support. Other areas of work included issuance of New Zealand’s first green bond (NZD$200m), development of a sustainability rotating fund (NZD$10m) for facility improvements, and the creation of Auckland’s first Urban Forestry Strategy.

John has over 20 years of experience in climate and sustainability-related policy, research and advocacy. He worked as Policy Director for a transport not-for-profit, helped deliver the US Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement and Seattle’s first climate plan while in the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Environment, and ran an organization dedicated to smart growth policy and advocacy. He's also taught at a small university in Vermont, led groups of students on immersion courses in the Himalaya and spent a year of independent research on four continents studying shamen and creation stories as a Thomas J. Watson Fellow.

John loves to explore on foot, bike, kayak and ski. He dabbles in piano playing, gardening, cooking, writing and loves to read. He’s also a grateful husband and an inspired father of a 9-year old who demands that we all work much harder for a better future and that we all play and love more.

How to connect with John

You can reach John at jmauro@cityofpt.us and (360) 379-5043. 

John also co-hosts a weekly radio show, Brewocracy Now!, on KPTZ every Thursday from 12:30-12:55pm with General Manager Taylor Clark, and special guests. Listen live at www.kptz.org or on 91.9FM, and send questions to jmauro@cityofpt.us. All episodes are recorded and archived here: kptz.org/podcasts/brewocracy-now 

John has now resumed a regular Coffee Chat every first Friday of the month from 9:00am - 10:30am, rotating through local coffee shops throughout the year.

2025 Coffee Chat locations: 

January through March:  Hudson Point Cafe, 130 Hudson Street
April through June: Aldrich's Market, Upstairs Gathering Place, 940 Lawrence Street
July through September: TBD
October through December: TBD

Check out our Facebook page or the City Newsletter to stay updated on engagement opportunities. 

Feel free to give John a wave and say hello when you see him riding his bike or walking through town and he’ll be glad to stop and talk!