Thornton will soon lose a veteran leader, Jack Ethredge, who notified the City Council on Tuesday that he planned to retire as city manager and utility director on March 20.
Ethredge, who has held the post in the city of nearly 130,000 since October 1984, told city leaders in a resignation letter that “I have had the privilege for the last 32 years to work in this wonderful community with dedicated elected officials; outstanding professional public administrators; and a talented and dedicated city employee workforce.”
Thornton’s population has nearly tripled since Ethredge’s first day on the job.
“He came to this community at a critical time when it needed stability and solid direction,” Thornton Mayor Heidi Williams said. “Jack provided that for the residents and businesses within Thornton.”
Ethredge’s retirement is the second from a city manager in Denver’s northern suburbs in as many weeks. Last week, at the end of January. Thornton City Council will begin the process of selecting a new city manager within the next few weeks.