Clearwater City Administrator Annita Smythe has received the 2021 Outstanding Leadership of an Appointed City Official award from the Minnesota Women in City Government (MWCG). The award recognizes exceptional and distinguished appointed and elected officials who have made a significant impact in city government. 

Clearwater Mayor Andrea Lawrence nominated Smythe for the award.

“Annita began her service with the city shortly before COVID changed the way everyone had to do their job,” said Lawrence in her nomination. “As a new employee in a city new to her this was an especially difficult challenging work environment.”

Lawrence commented that Smythe’s organization and leadership skills kept the city running smoothly during the pandemic and provided numerous example of how she had done so.

“The way she goes beyond normal scope for the city stems from her previous experience and education,” said Lawrence. “The city is extremely lucky with Annita’s background in accounting, and her background as a lawyer has really assisted the city. She took an orderly annexation and saw issues and alerted the city so we could all educate ourselves together and get the annexation moving towards a resolution.”

“Simply stated, the City of Clearwater is extremely lucky to have Annita Smythe working and leading the staff at City Hall.”

Smythe began working for the city in December 2020 after switching her career path to government work 10 years ago.

Besides receiving her law license in 2001, she earned a BA in business administration (accounting major) from the University of St. Thomas and a JD from William Mitchell College of Law. She was extensive work experience and serviced active duty in the United States Air Force in the early 1990s. 

Filling the roles of both City Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer for the City of Clearwater and Director for the Clear Lake/Clearwater Sewer Authority, Smythe is deserving of the award. Along with overseeing the day-to-day operations of both organizations, she supervises staff, prepares and reviews reports, oversees payroll and finances of the operations, and works with developers and regulatory and other agencies. She also works with the city’s new EDA, the Park Commission, the Fire Commission and more.

“I was very surprised and excited to hear I’d won the award,” said Smythe. “Government work can be rewarding but is also challenging at times. It is really nice to be appreciated.”

She believes that a lot has been accomplished in the two years she’s worked for the city, and her goal is to always make Clearwater the best it can be.

“I think our next steps are to try to find better ways to connect with the public in a positive way,” said Smythe. “Residents aren’t always aware of the accomplishments of the council and staff. There is so much negativity out there about government in general, we need our residents to know that they can talk with their city council members or the staff and make a difference locally. Building a strong community takes leaders both inside and outside of the organization.”

The MWCG is a member organization of the League of Minnesota Cities. It was founded in 1978 to encourage, mentor, and support development, leadership growth, and involvement of women in local government. The annual awards program recognizes women who inspire and make significant contributions within Minnesota cities and other organizations.

Membership is open to all (men and women) interested in improving local government.