After a couple of weeks of moderate moves, Mayor Katie Wilson has made a serious blunder. Her precipitous firing of Dawn Roth Lindell as General Manager and CEO of Seattle City Light was an error of judgment guaranteed to haunt her and potentially do disservice to the utility’s half million customers and 1,800 employees.
Without any public notice or warning, Wilson removed Lindell and at the same time announced appointment of Dennis McLerran, a respected environmental attorney. He formerly served as regional director of the Environmental Protection Agency but has no direct experience overseeing an electric utility.
Wilson fired a seasoned professional in Lindell. Hired in June 2024 after an extensive search by an 11-member selection committee, Lindell brought with her 25 years of experience in leadership roles in Colorado and California. In her year and a half at City Light, Lindell focused on increasing electrical sustainability and was acclaimed for her environmental stewardship. She instituted needed reforms prompted by a workplace scandal that came to light before her hiring; she worked closely with union leadership and gained respect for her leadership…