Getting to know new leaders: Mike Warren, Ephrata city administrator

When longtime Ephrata City Administrator Wes Crago announced last December that he would take the city administrator job in Spokane, the city quickly named its police chief, Mike Warren, to fill the vacancy.

So we wanted to find out a little more about Warren. To maintain proper social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak, Warren opted to respond to our questions via email. His responses have been edited for style, length and clarity.

Question: So, tell us about yourself. How long have you lived in Ephrata? What are your hobbies? What do you like about life in Ephrata?

Answer: My wife, Janet, and I have lived here for 10 1/2 years. We moved to Ephrata in August 2009. After we were here a few years, my son and daughter-in-law moved here to raise their kids. We all have come to call Ephrata home primarily because of the people who live here. We have been treated so well and accepted as members of the community from the moment we got here. The charm about Ephrata is the small town experience, but most of all it is the wonderful people we have the opportunity to spend time with.

I like working on my truck and seeing the changes taking place. It is artwork to me and the satisfaction of learning how to make something better than it was. I just love old trucks and muscle cars. I guess you can say it is nostalgic for me.

Q: Tell me about being a police officer. What is it you like about the work? Where have you worked? What sorts of challenges did you find as police chief in Ephrata?

A: I began my law enforcement career in 1984 with the Washington State Patrol. As a cadet I was assigned to the Governor’s Mansion for security. When I graduated from the State Patrol Academy, my first assignment was in Bremerton. As a trooper I worked in Bremerton, Vancouver and Gig Harbor. In 1992, I was promoted to sergeant and assigned to Okanogan. That was my first experience in Eastern Washington, and I really enjoyed the experience. In 1995, I was transferred to Vancouver, where I was assigned as the district VIN sergeant, overseeing vehicle inspections. In 1999, I was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to headquarters in Olympia. Later that year, I was reassigned to Wenatchee as the assistant district commander. I stayed in Wenatchee until I retired in 2009 to become the police chief in Ephrata. The transition from the State Patrol to Ephrata was rewarding and at the same time mind-boggling as I had never had any experience in municipal government. However, the transition went well because of the incredible staff within the police department and the city as a whole.

I joined law enforcement because I wanted to make a difference in my community. I found that dream was easier to accomplish in Ephrata than with the State Patrol because I was closer to the citizens working for Ephrata than I was in the State Patrol. My most difficult challenge making the transition from the patrol to Ephrata was the lack of resources. While at the Patrol if I had a question regarding the budget, the Patrol had a budget and fiscal office to answer my questions. The same is true with human resources, training, etc. However, at Ephrata, being the chief, I was expected to fill all of those positions. I have really enjoyed working as the chief in Ephrata because I had the opportunity to meet the incredible people who call Ephrata home. I particularly enjoyed working with the schools to mentor students.

Q: How would you describe the city of Ephrata, its economy and the people who live there?

A: The people who call Ephrata home are awesome, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. People who drive through Ephrata do not have the opportunity to really see what makes Ephrata so special. As you can see from my previous assignments that I have lived in a lot of different places within the state of Washington, and I have to say that the citizens in Ephrata are really special; they are more like family than casual citizens. I count myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to live and serve in Ephrata.

Q: How are you settling into your new job as city administrator? What challenges are you finding? How is it different from being chief of police, and what skills from that job carry over to your current one?

A: I was asked to take on the responsibilities of the city administrator the first of February, and nothing has been normal since. As you are aware, the COVID-19 epidemic started around the time I took over in this position, so the majority of my time has been directly connected with handling that crisis. Therefore, it is hard to evaluate my transition at this time. We have had challenges with scheduling and other concerns directly related to the epidemic. I believe the job skills I acquired in law enforcement have assisted in this transition, particularly my leadership experience in emergency management.

Q: What is your vision for the city of Ephrata? What would you like to accomplish as administrator?

A: My short-term goals are for us to get through this current crisis and when it is over to support our local businesses as they are taking a major hit with this epidemic. I am encouraged as I see citizens ordering take-out food to support our local restaurants. Once we are through with this crisis I would like to focus on replacing our library as it is too small and it needs upgrading. I also would like to see economic growth as we move forward.

Q: In what other ways are you or do you hope to be present in the community?

A: I want to be accessible to the community and recognize those who quietly devote their time and energy in making the city the great city it is.

Q: How are you handling the COVID-19 outbreak, both personally and professionally?

A: For me, I feel fortunate because I still have a job and have all the support of the staff. From that standpoint, I feel very fortunate. My wife’s a little bit apprehensive because she can’t leave the house, but overall I think we’re doing pretty well. We would like to get back to our normal schedule and be able to do the things that we want in the city. In the meantime, we’re all holding on. The staff has been very supportive and not complained about anything. Actually, we’re living the dream … under the circumstances.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at [email protected].