Kent City Management

Dave Ruller, Kent City Manager

I began serving as Kent's City Manager in June 2005. I came to Kent seasoned with the lessons learned from 16 years of experience in city government - 11 in Alexandria Virginia (population 125,000) and 5 in Kingsport Tennessee (population 45,000).

I've covered a lot of miles and more issues than I can recall but through it all I have managed to keep an undiminished enthusiasm for the profession of public service and I try to be a contagion for optimism wherever I go. If I ever lose that, it will be time to find a new career.

In both training and experience I am unconventional. I believe local governments have an obligation to operate with the competitive efficiency of a business. I copy, adapt and apply as much I can from the business world and I continuously strive for excellence and innovation in city services. I have seen how city governments not only serve but lead through well executed strategies that build momentum, pushing a community towards prosperity.

If credentials are important I would offer that I am a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Hobart College and I hold a masters degree in administration from Alfred University I am also a graduate of the University of Virginia's Senior Executive Institute which is a program jointly sponsored by the Darden Business School and the Cooper Center for Public Service.

I have 5 years experience in Malcolm Baldrige Quality Assessment training and I have been a featured speaker at national and international conferences on the deployment of quality practices in public sector organizations. As a result of these efforts I also serve on the American Society for Quality's (ASQ) 'Community Good Works' review board.

I have been fortunate to have been honored by the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, the City of Alexandria and Kingsport for leadership excellence. I am a former chapter president for the American Public Works Association (APWA) and I'm a member of Rotary International.

I have two great kids and a terrific wife who tolerates a lot of after-hours meetings and middle of the night snowstorms, sewer backups and water main breaks.