Longest tenured city manager announces retirement

Longest tenured city manager announces retirement

Published on April 02, 2026

Career includes 46 years of service to Lakewood

Lakewood City Manager Kathy Hodgson, the longest tenured city manager in the state and the city's history, has announced that she will retire this summer, leaving a legacy of steady leadership, strong partnerships and lasting community impact.

Lakewood City Council hired Hodgson as city manager almost 18 years ago, but she began her public service career with Lakewood 46 years ago. She started as a lifeguard at the Morse Park pool, where she discovered her passion for public service. Through hard work and dedication, she advanced through the organization, serving as community resources director before becoming city manager.

"It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the City of Lakewood. There is nothing more rewarding than experiencing local government in action, and I will truly miss it. What makes this community so special is its people - our employees, elected officials, partners and residents - who make it very hard to leave," Hodgson said. "While this was a difficult decision, I'm confident it is the right one, and I know Lakewood is well positioned to thrive."

She called upon her lifeguarding experience in a touching email to employees about her retirement. See her full email to staff in the attachment(PDF, 106KB).

When she became city manager, female city managers were very uncommon, and her leadership has helped pave the way for future generations of women in local government.

Her leadership has been instrumental in strengthening community engagement and enhancing city operations, leading to numerous achievements including being named City Manager of the Year in 2025 by the Colorado City and County Management Association:

• Securing 192 acres for the city's parks and open space since 2018, including Peak View Park, nearly 60 acres of open space in the heart of Lakewood.

• Overseeing the largest infrastructure investment in the city's history through the West Colfax Transportation Safety Project and the North Dry Gulch Improvement Project to address safety and flooding issues in the West Colfax corridor.

• Serving as a regional leader in Jefferson County on the homelessness issue, leading to the creation of the VOA Colorado Navigation Center that provides 24/7/365 service and shelter for residents without housing; a cooperative agreement among Jeffco cities for cold weather sheltering; a network of homeless navigators to move residents off the street; and a team of mental health co-responders in the Police Department.

• Expanding the city's sustainability efforts that include increasing electric vehicles in the city's fleet, installing solar power at Whitlock Recreation Center, adding EV charging stations at city facilities and creating a residential composting program.

• Earning the All-America City Award in 2011 and 2016 and the Hall of Fame Award in 2025 from the National Civic League.

• Achieving the launch of the award-winning Sustainable Neighborhoods Program, which has been copied by cities in other states that has resulted in the Sustainable Neighborhood Network.

• Conceiving of an innovative approach to work with Jeffco Public Schools and a local nonprofit to repurpose a closed school into a new community campus that will provide a suite of services for low-income families.

• Receiving a 2026 Champion of Public Service in honor of the country's 250^th anniversary; an Outstanding Women in Business award from the Denver Business Journal; and the Outstanding Woman of Jefferson County award for her impact on the community and inspiration to others.

• Serving currently on the United Way Board of Trustees and the Denver Botanic Gardens Board of Directors, including as chair; and formerly serving on the Red Rocks Community College Advisory Council; the Colorado Women's Forum as president; the Colorado Municipal League executive board; and the Metro City & County Management Association.

• Earning a master's degree in public administration and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government certificate for senior executives.

Work on a transition plan is underway and will be a factor in determining her official retirement date.

- Lakewood -

To view this announcement in another language, please read the post on LakewoodCO.gov and select a language from the drop-down menu above the search bar.

Para ver este comunicado en otro idioma, lea la publicación en LakewoodCO.gov y seleccione un idioma en el menú desplegable encima de la barra de búsqueda.

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