College Place holds public interviews for Council Position 1; council moves to executive session

College Place City Council interviewed three candidates on Aug. 26 for the vacancy in Council Position 1 created by the resignation of Council Member Paul Jessup.

The interviews were conducted in public, with HR Director Dowing drawing the interview order in advance. Jordan Green, John Haid and David Lopez each answered seven questions and were given up to two minutes per question and up to three minutes for closing remarks; council members were instructed to score answers on a 1-to-9 scale and to submit scorecards for the public record.

The interviews matter because the council must fill the seat vacated by Paul Jessup and said it would evaluate the applicants’ qualifications in executive session before taking any formal appointment action in open session. The council cited RCW 42.30.110(1)(h) as the statutory authority for the closed evaluation.

Jordan Green, a candidate for Council Position 1, said “the most important duty is to be intentional and well informed,” and described his nonprofit management experience and work with homelessness services as preparation for giving voice to vulnerable residents. Green said he considers the city’s leadership transition, including filling key staff roles, a top near-term priority.

John Haid told the panel the most important responsibility of a council member is “to represent its people.” Haid said his top priorities are affordable housing, mental health services and attracting businesses; he described his approach to conflicting priorities as relying on respect and compromise.

David Lopez said one of the most important duties is “representing our citizens and being able to be a voice for them.” Lopez emphasized communication and community engagement, noting his involvement with local service events and his work with students as background that would help him represent Hispanic and younger residents.

Procedural details and some scheduling questions were discussed during the interviews. Council staff and several council members at times gave differing descriptions of the council’s meeting schedule (the record contains references to “second and third Tuesdays” and also to “second and fourth Tuesdays”). Candidates were asked to confirm availability for regularly scheduled City of College Place meetings and each affirmed availability despite the scheduling-language inconsistencies recorded in the meeting.

After the last candidate spoke, the council adjourned to executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(h) “to evaluate the qualifications of a candidate for appointment to elected office.” The mayor said the council would reconvene in open session and expected to take any appointment action then.

No appointment was made on the record during this meeting. Any formal vote to appoint a candidate will be recorded in the public minutes of the meeting at which the council reconvenes and acts.