Former City Manager Michael Cleghorn
LAWTON – After serving a little over four years as Lawton’s chief administrative officer, City Manager Michael Cleghorn resigned under pressure Tuesday night, March 7.
Upon returning at 6:56 p.m. from a two-hour and 22-minute closed-door executive session, the City Council voted 6-3 to accept Cleghorn’s resignation effective Wednesday, March 8, and provide a six-month severance package.
Voting “yes” were Mayor Stan Booker and council members Sean Fortenbaugh, Randy Warren, Allan Hampton, Onreaka Johnson, and Mary Ann Hankins. Council members George Gill, Linda Chapman and Kelly Harris voted “no”.
The council previously discussed Cleghorn’s annual evaluation last month.
Also Tuesday the council voted to raise the salary of City Attorney John Ratliff to $161,750 and appointed him interim city manager until a new city manager is hired.
The council spent no time openly debating Cleghorn’s status, and after their two votes they immediately adjourned and quickly left the council chamber.
Afterward, Mayor Booker said simply, “We appreciate Michael’s service and wish him and his family the best.”
Cleghorn, a retired Army combat veteran, was appointed Lawton’s city manager in January 2019 and took office the next month.
After retiring from the Army and before he was hired by the Lawton City Council, Cleghorn held various posts in several municipalities.
He was the public works director for the City of Copperas Cove, Texas, for 26 months, 2017 – February 2019, during which time he managed the activities of eight departments and approximately 80 personnel.
In Killeen, Texas, Cleghorn was the director of solid waste services for four years and four months, October 2012 – January 2017.
He was the assistant director of solid waste for the City of Lufkin, Texas, for about a year and a half, June 2011 – October 2012.
And for six years prior to that, 2005-11, Cleghorn was the solid waste director in the City of Crockett, Texas.
Cleghorn retired from the Army as a chief warrant officer after a career of almost 21 years: August 1983 – May 2004.
Cleghorn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in liberal arts from Excelsior College in Albany, New York, and a Master’s in Science in leadership and management from Texas A&M Central Texas.