PORT ANGELES — The city has received one applicant for a vacant City Council seat: former council candidate Rick Burton.
Burton ran for council Position 2, but lost in the August primary to Max Mania, who won the seat in the Nov. 3 general election after a challenge from Edna Petersen.
Council Position 1 became vacant after Larry Little announced the evening of Dec. 31 that he was to resign.
Little cited his wife’s cancer and chemotherapy treatments and the needs of his family for the reason for his departure.
Former Deputy Mayor Betsy Wharton, who said during an interview shortly after Little’s resignation that she was unsure whether she would apply, has decided to not seek the appointment.
Wharton said today that she made the decision last weekend after briefly contemplating whether to replace Little, a friend of hers, and rejoin the council.
She was defeated in the general election by Brooke Nelson,
Wharton said she didn’t want to override the voters’ decision not to re-elect her.
The city has been accepting applications since Wednesday.
The council seat, as all Port Angeles council positions, are available to all residents, no matter their residence.
Applications are due by 3 p.m. Jan. 19. They can be picked up at the city manager’s office and city clerk’s office — both at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St. — and are available on the city’s Web site, www.cityofpa.us.
The City Council will interview applicants during a special meeting at 5 p.m. Jan. 20 in the council chambers at City Hall. A decision may be made then or at the council’s Feb. 2 meeting.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
