Garza hired as Othello city administrator
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 hour, 3 minutes AGO
Othello Police Chief Aaron Garza, pictured in January, has been hired as Othello city administrator.
FILE PHOTO
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | April 29, 2026 3:25 AM
OTHELLO — Aaron Garza, currently Othello Police Chief, has been hired as Othello’s new city administrator.
Othello Mayor Ken Johnson said Garza, an Othello native, will help with continuity in city administration.
“We’re going to have him for the long term,” Johnson said.
Garza is committed to Othello, Johnson said, and has education and training in public administration. Garza has administrative experience from his OPD career, Johnson said, and has support from Othello residents.
“There are a lot of good qualities there,” Johnson said.
Garza replaces former Mayor Shawn Logan, who worked as both mayor and city administrator. Johnson was elected as mayor in 2025 but said during the campaign he didn’t plan to work as city administrator, a position he reiterated after he was elected.
Garza was one of 18 to apply, a list Johnson said was trimmed to four people for interviews. Candidates were interviewed by two separate panels, and Garza was the choice of the combined panels.
Garza is a 2000 graduate of Othello High School, joined the Marine Corps and opted to come back to Othello after his military service. He said in an earlier interview that he had deep roots in the community and wanted his children to have the same kind of childhood he had experienced.
“This is where I grew up,” Garza said in a January interview. “I’m proud of Othello and the people that are here.”
He held nearly every job in the police department, working as a patrol officer, detective, school resource officer and patrol sergeant before being named assistant chief in 2023, when his predecessor Dave Rehaume took over the chief’s job.
Garza was sworn in as OPD chief in January, working as interim chief after Rehaume retired in November 2025. Johnson said Garza is working on a plan for a replacement as OPD chief.
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
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Garza hired as Othello city administrator
OTHELLO — Aaron Garza, currently Othello Police Chief, has been hired as Othello’s new city administrator. Othello Mayor Ken Johnson said Garza, an Othello native, will help with continuity in city administration. “We’re going to have him for the long term,” Johnson said. Garza is committed to Othello, Johnson said, and has education and training in public administration. Garza has administrative experience from his OPD career, Johnson said, and has support from Othello residents. “There are a lot of good qualities there,” Johnson said.