Lorri Ericson, the current planning and research/administrative services manager for the Puyallup Police Department, has been named assistant city manager of Des Moines.

Ericson "brings a wealth of public sector experience and knowledge to our team," City Manager Tony Piasecki said recently in announcing her appointment. She will begin her new job on July 21.

Piasecki described Ericson, who was selected from a pool of 96 candidates, as "the best interpersonal and technical fit for our organization and team."

Concurring with Piasecki's pick, Mayor Bob Sheckler said, "I'm very pleased because she was my first choice. She works very well with the public. She has potential to work very well with the existing city staff, and to be a city manager someday in the event that Tony should ever leave."

"I'm eager to become a productive part of the wonderful Waterland community," Ericson said. "I just want to do my part to make a difference. I'm totally excited to join this wonderful team of people. I think it will be a good match."

Des Moines has been without an assistant city manager since 2004 when Corbitt Loch resigned to pursue other opportunities.

Piasecki noted that primary reasons for hiring Ericson included "her background in some of the technical areas she will be handling - human resources, information technology, and special projects," as well as capital improvement projects.

Ericson also has managed the Puyallup Police Department's communication section, served as a project manager on information technology and communications projects for that city, and worked as a senior consultant on government projects for AltaVista Group, a private sector firm.

She has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Washington University.

Piasecki added that she "knows how to research subjects thoroughly. The level of preparation she did for the interview process we put her through was incredible."

Ironically, Ericson initially did not pursue the position. She was contacted by Waldron and Co., which had been retained by the city to conduct the search for a new assistant city manager.

"I started researching the position. The timing was right, the opportunity was fantastic, so I thought I'd put my hat in the ring," she said.

In the process, "I fell in love with [Des Moines]," Ericson said.

Now she and her husband, Puyallup Police Sgt. Pete Bellmer, plan to move to Des Moines as soon as they sell their house there.