City of Walla Walla announces new Deputy City Manager

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- The City of Walla Walla said it has hired a new Deputy City Manager following the retirement of the current Deputy City Manager Robert "Bob" Francis.

Preston Frederickson is slated to start his new position as Walla Walla Deputy City Manager on November 4; Francis is expected to retire on November 1.

Francis worked as the Deputy City Manager since April 2023. Before serving with the City of Walla Walla, Francis was the City Manager for three other cities and served as Executive Director for the Mid-Columbia Council of Governments in the Dalles, Oregon.

Frederickson was the Director of the City's Development Services Department since July 2020 and will be taking on the role of Deputy City Manager while continuing to head the development services department.

He also served as the Assistant City Attorney for nearly 14 years.

“Preston and I have worked together almost 10 years and I’m excited to work with him in his new role as deputy city manager,” City Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain said. “Preston has a deep commitment to Walla Walla, and the community is lucky to have a dedicated city team member in Preston.”

“I am saddened that I cannot continue in this role, but with my health issues, I can no longer be an asset to the city team,” Francis said. “I truly enjoyed my time as the deputy city manager and I am thankful for the support I received from the City Council, Leadership Team, my staff, but most of all, from City Manager Chamberlain.”

“Bob has brought to the deputy city manager position many years of city management experience that has been an asset to the city and me,” Chamberlain said. “His work on the recently adopted Tourism Master Plan will positively impact the community for many years to come, and the city was fortunate to have Bob on the team.”

Frederickson will oversee five divisions of the Support Services Department including the citywide risk-management program; the Homeless Sleep Center; the indigent defense contract; and tourism initiatives and the Arts Commission. He will serve as the city treasurer and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title VI coordinator, and as acting city manager as directed by the city manager.

“Over the nearly 18 years as a city employee, I have enjoyed building valuable relationships with community members and stakeholders,” Frederickson said. “I look forward to continuing these relationships, building new ones and developing new partnerships that benefit our community through the services offered by the city of Walla Walla.”

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