FILLING COUNCIL VACANCIES

6/23/25 letter to city and county:


This section provides guidance to the City Council when a Blaine Council Member position becomes vacant before the expiration of the official’s elected term of office. Pursuant to state law, a vacancy shall be filled only until the next regular municipal election, to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. 

(a) Appointment Process 

1. A Council position shall be officially declared vacant upon the occurrence of any of the causes of vacancy set forth in RCW 42.12.010, including resignation, recall, forfeiture, written intent to resign, or death of a Council Member. The Council Member who is vacating his or her position cannot participate in the appointment process. 

2. The City Council shall direct staff to begin the Council Member appointment process and establish an interview and appointment schedule, so that the position is filled at the earliest opportunity. 

3. The City Clerk’s Office shall advertise for the position in the local newspaper and City website and social media, providing the requirements necessary to hold public office in the State of Washington, and that the applicant (a) be a registered voter in Blaine, (b) have lived in the city for one year at time of appointment, and (c) live in the ward in which the vacancy occurred. The advertisement shall include the deadline date for submitting applications, and the proposed interview date. 

4. The City Clerk’s Office shall provide application forms which shall be made available on the City’s website and at City Hall. 

5. Applications received by the deadline will be reviewed for qualifications including voter status, and city and ward residency. Where the applicants meet the qualifications, the City Clerk’s Office will make copies of the applications, which may include additional information such as endorsements, letters of reference, resumes, and other materials. 

6. The City Clerk’s Office shall include the interviews on the agenda, which may be a regularly scheduled City Council meeting, a Special City Council meeting, or a City Council study session. 

7. The City Clerk’s Office shall notify the applicants of the location, date, and time of the City Council interviews, as well as provide a copy of the proposed interview questions.

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