After reviewing the credentials of three candidates the Yakima City Council selected Don Cooper for the position of City Manager after a 5-2 vote.

The Yakima City Council completed its review of six City Manager candidates and selected three to interview July 12th and 13th.  The three were Cooper, Timothy Hacker and Jim Payne.   
Cooper has more than 30 years experience as a City Manager in Colorado and Florida.  In his most recent governmental position, he served the City Manager of Port St. Lucie, Fl., from 1991 to 2010.  Over that period, the City grew in population from 56,000 to 165,000.  As a result, major infrastructure projects had to be undertaken including a $180 million dollar expansion of the utility system which brought service to over 55,000 new customers. 

He has also worked with six unions and been involved in bringing a number of new businesses to the City including bio medical companies such as Tory Pines Institute for Molecular Studies and Vaccine Gene Therapy.  Other significant businesses attracted to Port St. Lucie during his tenure were Digital Domain (which makes animated full length feature films), three call centers and a WalMart distribution center.  At the same time Port St. Lucie ranked as the safest city in Florida with a population exceeding 50,000 for seven consecutive years.

Cooper and his wife Linda recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and have raised two children, Virginia and Ken, as well as two grandchildren – a third on the way.