Patti McLauchlin hands the reins of city manager to Al Childress. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
Retiring Key West city manager Patti McLauchlin has had a clock on her phone, counting down the days until her retirement next month after more than 30 years with the city of Key West.
The support, friendship and emotion poured out on McLauchlin’s behalf during her June 23 retirement party would have made anyone second-guess their decision to leave it all behind. But only for a moment.
McLauchlin, who moved up through the city ranks before becoming Key West’s first female city manager in 2021, has said she can’t wait to spend more time with her grandchildren, family and friends —¸without also having to manage an entire city.
That responsibility now falls to McLauchlin’s successor Al Childress, who started work in April to allow for sufficient overlap before McLauchlin’s last day on Friday, July 14.
On behalf of the Keys Weekly, we wish you all the best and we thank you for your support and accessibility in keeping the community informed via its local newspaper.
City employees, police officers, elected officials, business owners and residents wish City Manager Patti McLauchlin well at her June 23 retirement party at Waterfront Brewery. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys WeeklyCity Commissioner Sam Kaufman and Mayor Teri Johnston sing McLauchlin’s praises at her retirement party on June 23. McLauchlin worked for the city of Key West for more than 30 years and became its first female city manager in 2021. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys WeeklyPatti McLauchlin hands the reins of city manager to Al Childress. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys WeeklyPatti McLauchlin speaks to the crowd of more than 200 guests who braved the heat advisories and afternoon sun for her June 23 retirement party on the rooftop terrace at Waterfront Brewery. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys WeeklyPast and present Key West city managers, from left, Jim Scholl (now a county commissioner), Greg Veliz (now head of Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority), Patti McLauchlin (soon-to-be-retired guest of honor) and current City Manager Al Childress. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys WeeklyKey West Mayor Teri Johnston, County Commissioner Jim Scholl, Greg Veliz, City Manager Patti McLauchlin, City Manager Al Childress, City Commissioners Clayton Lopez, Sam Kaufman and Billy Wardlow. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys WeeklyFast friends and colleagues Dorian Patton and Patti McLauchlin at her June 23 retirement party at Waterfront Brewery. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
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