In the fall of 2018, Jeff Niten was working in community development and planning for the City of Ridgefield in southwestern Washington when he saw Shelton was seeking a new city manager.

In an interview Tuesday with the Journal, Niten said two things attracted him to the post: the opportunity to work for a city that had recently adopted the council-manager form of government that makes the manager the city's top executive, and the chance to help spur housing and economic development.

Four years and two months into his post, Niten is leaving to be the city manager for the City of Mountlake...