Larry McLaughlin - Reflections

I was elected to the Sebastopol City Council in 2020. It was deep into Covid. Everything was via zoom, camaraderie was hard to develop, and there was an overriding sense of isolation everywhere. I was a complete newbie to government work and felt the isolation imposed by Covid as an immense barrier. Larry was a mainstay for me. I had learned to trust and rely on him for the many years that I was ED of the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center. I knew him to be ethical, kind, experienced, accessible, and always committed to the community. My time with him as a City Councimember has reinforced all those impressions. He shepherded me though my early days and has been an advisor and facilitator of all things good from the outset. Even as I embrace our new City Manager, I know I will sorely miss my regular contact with Larry McLaughlin. 

True to his commitment to the City he loves, Larry delayed his retirement as City Manager for over a year. His original retirement announcement was in October 2022 and here we are in November of 2023, with a new City Manager arriving in January 2024. Larry navigated this path with us, getting us to the point where he could transition us in a smooth way to this change in leadership. Of course, this is no surprise. It's just what we'd all expect from this ethical, kind, experienced, accessible leader who cares deeply for his community. 

Thank you Larry, for all you've done for this fair City. I am glad that you'll be staying on to guide us as City Attorney, but I will truly miss you as our City Manager. And I wish you well in your much-deserved retirement!