PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles has opened its application process for filling the unexpired term of departing council member Mike French.
French won the Nov. 8 general election race for the District 3 Clallam County Commission over incumbent candidate Bill Peach and submitted his letter of resignation on Nov. 28 with his last day set for Dec. 31.
The Port Angeles City Council on Tuesday directed staff to initiate the public notice announcing the vacancy and set guidelines. Qualified applicants must be registered voters and have been a resident in the City of Port Angeles for at least a year.
Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Jan. 9. The council is expected to conduct interviews on Jan. 17.
New this year is the provision that applicants will be able to fill out an online application at https://cityofpa-formsdev.app.transform.civicplus.com/forms/30224.
The person appointed will serve until the results of the November 2023 general election are certified.
“It is the staff’s desire that interested applicants use the digital application and once submitted with any attachments, all will be directly emailed to the City Clerk. If needed, the kiosk located at City Hall will be available to those who do not have access to the digital application,” City Manager Nathan West said.
It has been a past practice that the Council announce the vacancy and invite interested persons to complete an application form or submit a letter of interest to the Council for consideration, and then interview candidates in an open public forum per the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act.
The Council can evaluate the qualifications of candidates in an executive session. The vote to fill the vacancy must be in an open session.
Council agreed that if it receives five applications or fewer it will interview all candidates in an open forum, but if it receives six applications or more it will generate a list of finalists based on council input.
West initially proposed an application due date of Jan. 4 but Deputy Mayor Brendan Meyer urged a longer application time, noting that the upcoming holiday season could be difficult for interested persons to apply.
Council member LaTrisha Suggs, who went through the application process in 2019, agreed with Meyer .
“As someone who went through this process recently, it really is something you think about, and it’s a big decision to make,” Suggs said.
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Reporter Ken Park can be reached at kpark@peninsuladailynews.com.
