Administration

The role of the CAO is to provide leadership and coordination of operations across city departments in order to advance the Mayor’s priorities and policy decisions, ensuring alignment with the city’s adopted business plan.

Ed has called the City of Renton his employer for over 37 years. Starting in 1988, he began part-time summer work for the Parks and Recreation Department as a maintenance laborer at Coulon Beach. In 1996, he was hired full-time with the Parks Department. In early 1998, Ed achieved his goal of becoming a commissioned Police Officer. After holding several positions and ranks, he was appointed Chief of Police in 2018, following nearly six years as Deputy Chief. In December 2020, Ed was appointed Interim Chief Administration Officer before taking on the role full-time on March 1, 2021. Throughout his career, Ed was also a member of the Washington Army National Guard. He began his military career as an enlisted soldier in 1991, received an Army scholarship, and was commissioned as an officer after graduating from Central Washington University with a B.A. in Law and Justice in 1995. After serving 25 years in the Army, including an 18-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Ed retired in 2016 as the Provost Marshal for the 66th Theater Aviation Command. Ed was born and raised in Renton and is proud to serve the community that supported him through his various roles.

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Kristi Rowland

Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
Administrator, Executive Services Department

The role of the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer is to serve as Administrator of the Executive Services Department (ESD) while also supporting the CAO and Mayor’s offices in city-wide initiatives and efforts that are aligned with our business plan.  ESD includes Communications & Engagement, IT, City Clerk and Public Records, Emergency Management, and Organizational Development & Performance. Together, these teams improve systems, enhance service, and enable data-driven decisions while fostering inclusion, innovation, accessibility, and transparency.

Kristi Rowland brings 30 years of public service experience and has served the city of Renton since 2007.  She started in the Finance Department and progressed to her current role in 2021.  Her prior experiences include leadership roles in tribal government as well as some time with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Kristi currently serves as President of the Municipal Research Services Center (MRSC) Board of Directors, is a Past President of Washington City Management Association (WCMA).  She is a former board member of the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) and served briefly as the interim Sound Cities Association Executive Director. She is a founding member of the Northwest Women’s Leadership academy. She holds a B.S. from Eastern Oregon University, is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and a graduate of the UVA Senior Executive Institute as well as the Harvard | Bloomberg City Leadership Initiative.

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Shane Moloney

City Attorney, City Attorney's Office

The City Attorney’s Office represents and provides legal advice to the mayor, city council, city administration, and the boards and commissions that make up the municipal government of the City of Renton. The Prosecution Division represents the city in misdemeanor criminal matters, infractions, and code violations that occur within the city limits.

Shane Moloney is an accomplished attorney with over 20 years of legal experience, serving the City of Renton since 2015. As City Attorney, Shane oversees the city's prosecution and legal services. Shane started his legal career over 20 years ago in private practice, where he gained experience in areas including employment law, real estate, litigation, construction law, and municipal law. To focus exclusively on public service, he transitioned to in-house municipal law, including serving as a City Prosecutor and City Attorney for Washington cities prior to joining Renton. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Law and Justice from Central Washington University, with minors in Sociology and Business Administration, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Washington School of Law.

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Gina Estep

Administrator, Community & Economic Development Department

Community and Economic Development (CED) initiates and leads economic development, land use planning and regulation, and services related to all aspects of the development process, while working with neighborhoods to enhance economic prosperity, vitality, and livability.

Gina Estep brings more than 30 years of experience in economic development and urban planning to her role as Renton’s Community & Economic Development (CED) Administrator.  After calling Renton home for the last 17 years, she joined the City of Renton in January 2023 as Economic Development Director and was appointed Administrator in May 2024. In this role, she guides business growth, community development, and strategic initiatives that support Renton’s long-term vision.

Her career includes leadership positions with the cities of North Bend and Covington and work as an urban planner for Murray Franklyn Companies. She holds a degree in Urban and Regional Planning and Community Development from Western Washington University.

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Kari Roller

Administrator, Finance Department

The Finance Department accounts for all financial transactions for the city. They are also responsible for preparing the annual financial statement, biennial budget, grant compliance, accounts payable/receivable, and utility billing customer support.

Kari Roller has been with the City of Renton since 2010, progressing from a Senior Finance Analyst to the Fiscal Services Director position until her appointment to Administrator in 2021. Kari leads the department with a commitment to transparency, education, and collaboration. She has been a leader of substantial process improvements within the city and spearheaded implementation of the city's B&O tax program. She was also a member of the development group that brought the Family First Center to Renton. 

Kari has 30 years of accounting experience, previously holding Accounting Manager and Auditor positions. Prior to her work with the City of Renton, Kari worked as an accountant at a CPA firm in Auburn, WA where she later became a partner. Kari is a Certified Public Accountant and graduate of Seattle University.

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David Topaz

Administrator, Human Resources & Risk Management Department

Human Resources and Risk Management (HRRM) works in partnership with administrators and their teams, with individual employees and groups, and with employee representatives and the community to provide programs and services that create an inclusive work environment that is positive and productive.

David Topaz joined the city in 2025 and brings 35 years in public service and private labor law firm experience.  His experience includes his most recent role as Vice President of Employee Development and Engagement at the Sacramento Regional Transit District, as a Labor Negotiator for King County and the City of Tacoma, and within a labor law firm in California engaged with over 65 government agencies. He also served for 13 years as a Police Officer for the City of Sacramento and was the President of the Sacramento Police Officers Union for four years.  He has taught university-level classes in Public Administration, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Services Management as an Adjunct Professor at two private universities. David holds a Bachelor of Arts from Oregon State University in Political Science, a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco and hold an SHRM- Senior Certified Professional Certificate.

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Maryjane Van Cleave

Administrator, Parks & Recreation Department

The Parks & Recreation Department, in partnership with Renton residents, provides comprehensive park and recreation programs, facilities, and services that support healthy communities and respond to changing needs within the community.

Maryjane Van Cleave has more than 20 years of experience in parks and recreation, over half of this time with Renton.  Before being appointed as Parks and Recreation Administrator in 2024, she held progressive leadership roles in the city, including Recreation Manager and Director, Director of Communications & Engagement, and Administrator of the Equity, Housing and Human Services Department.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Gerontology from California State University–Sacramento.

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Jon Schuldt

Chief, Renton Police Department

Renton Police works to be the regional leader in providing professional and unbiased law enforcement services. They are committed to the community and loyal to the profession; exhibiting integrity, service, valor, and professionalism.

Chief Schuldt has served with the Renton Police Department for 30 years.  Starting as a patrol officer in 1995, he moved to the K-9 Unit in 1999 and in 2006 advanced to sergeant in the patrol division. In 2011 he was assigned to supervise the special enforcement team and was promoted to North Sector Commander in 2014.  He was appointed Deputy Chief in January 2018 and has been our Chief of Police since October 2021. 

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Martin Pastucha

Administrator, Public Works Department

Public Works protects the health and safety of the community by overseeing the operation and maintenance of the city’s infrastructure including utilities, transportation, and solid waste. The department also manages city facilities and Renton Municipal Airport.

Martin Pastucha brings over 40 years of government experience across the following departments: City Manager, Police, Parks & Recreation, and Public Works. He has over 25 years of Executive Level experience in various cities having served as Public Works Director in the cities of La Habra, CA; Pasadena, CA; Santa Monica, CA; Redmond, WA; and Interim Director in San Fernando, CA.  He also served 3 years as a Management Consultant for Management Partners performing organizational analysis and operational analysis of Public Works Departments for municipal clients.  He has been Public Works Administrator for the City of Renton since June 2025.  He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Cal State Univ. Long Beach, and an M.P.A from Cal State Univ San Bernardino.

He was Past President of the League of California Cities Public Works Officers Department in 2010, and served on the League of California Cities Board of Directors in 2012-2014.

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