New Lawton city manager chosen

Lawton’s new city manager has a familiar face.

Interim City Manager John Ratliff was named city manager Tuesday by a unanimous vote of the City Council, seven months after taking the job on a temporary basis. Ratliff had been city attorney for two years when he was named to replace former City Manager Michael Cleghorn after he resigned March 8. Ratliff’s new title was effective upon Tuesday’s council vote.

Council members specified Ratliff would be paid $210,000 a year, along with $12,000 in interim pay. His new contract also specifies he will retain his existing vacation and leave time, will be provided a city vehicle for his use, and will have his association dues/fees covered by the city.

“I am honored and humbled to have been chosen as city manager,” Ratliff said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing work with the City Council, city staff, and our community to maintain and enhance the quality of life in Lawton.”

Ratliff was hired as city attorney (one of four positions that work for the City Council) in June 2020, beginning his duties in January 2021 after completing his military service.

Ratliff was commissioned as an Air Defense Artillery officer upon graduation from the University of Oklahoma Army ROTC program as a Distinguished Military Graduate in 1998. During his military career, Ratliff deployed in support of overseas contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for his service in the CENTCOM Area of Operations.

Ratliff earned his juris doctorate degree from Oklahoma City University and a master’s degree of public administration from the University of Oklahoma. He also earned a master’s degree of legal letters in military law from the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School. He has been licensed to practice law in Oklahoma since 2007 and also was admitted to practice before the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals.

Ratliff and his wife Krista, the parents of three, volunteer with Boy Scouts of America and have previously volunteered with Holiday in the Park and various youth sports leagues as coaches.

Ratliff’s selection as city manager comes a month after the council replaced a second major city administrator. In late September, the council named Donalynn Blazek-Scherler as city clerk, specifying she would transition to the position full time on Thursday, the day before long-time City Clerk Traci Hushbeck begins her terminal leave then retires from city employment after 23 years.