Pasco’s popular mayor swapping his gavel for new adventures

Matt Watkins has served the residents of Pasco for 16 years.

Now, after 10 years at the helm as mayor, the Tri-City native is ready to ride through the fog into the proverbial sunset.

Watkins will rap the gavel one final time tonight during the Pasco City Council’s last meeting in 2019.

Zahra Roach, chair of the city’s planning commission, won the at-large seat in the November general election and will be sworn in during the first meeting on Jan. 6.

Watkins announced in April that he was ready to step down from public service.

He first was elected to the council in 2004, then selected mayor in 2010 by his fellow council members.

Watkins has left a positive mark on the Pasco community through tremendous growth and challenges, according to a news release from the city of Pasco.

Council members, city staff and the community have appreciated his patience and even hand leading the city council over the past decade, the release said.

“Mayor Watkins has been a faithful servant and inspiration for the people of Pasco and the Tri-Cities,” said Councilman Saul Martinez. “His relentless strength and care for people have shaped the community into a thriving place to live.”

“His time and effort to improve the quality of life for our citizens will be remembered for a long time,” Martinez added. “Mayor Watkins has performed beyond the call of duty.”

Mayor pro-tem Craig Maloney described Watkins as the strongest of advocates for the region.

“His steady, thoughtful leadership helped build the amazing community we live in today,” said Maloney. “He is one of a kind and will be sorely missed.”

Watkins’ grandparents homesteaded in Eltopia during the early years of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project. Another set of grandparents owned a laundry in downtown Pasco after World War II.

His father continued to farm asparagus and his mother managed the Port of Kennewick.

Watkins graduated from Kennewick High School in 1986 and made Pasco his home in 1995 “because of the diversity of the community, reasonably priced homes and proximity to quality tacos,” according to the city’s website.

He plans to travel the world for two years starting at the end of the month.

The city council will have a short presentation and reception for Watkins at tonight’s meeting, 525 N. Third Ave. The meeting starts at 6 p.m.

The public also is invited to a reception Wednesday thanking Watkins for his service. That will start at 5:30 p.m. at the Pasco Red Lion, 2525 N. 20th Ave.

This story was originally published December 9, 2019 at 12:48 PM.