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SRLJC members press county to fill racial equity committee chair after months-long vacancy
Summary
During public comment, Nissi Jones said she had applied months earlier for the SRLJC racial equity position and asked whether the vacancy remained a priority; later council member Lehi urged the SRLJC to press the Board of County Commissioners to act.
During the SRLJC open forum, Nissi Jones said she applied months earlier for the council’s racial equity position and asked whether the vacancy remained a priority for the county.
“I have applied for that position months ago,” Jones said during public comment, asking whether the council still considered the role important.
Later in the meeting, a council member identified as Lehi raised a broader concern about the absence of a racial equity committee chair. Lehi said the vacancy had persisted for close to two years and noted recent county appointment activity: “In the last 3 months since February 4, continuing to March 25… there have been 15 various board and council appointments by the Board of County Commissioners,” Lehi said, and described the situation as “very disturbing.”
Lehi told the SRLJC that the county had signed the council’s bylaws via Resolution 21-0458 and that the bylaws call for a racial equity committee chair. Lehi also said state law (RCW) requires the council’s existence but does not specifically require community representation; the county’s practice of including community appointees, Lehi said, made the vacancy more notable.
Council members discussed next steps but did not take a formal vote at the meeting. Lehi said she would place the item on the SRLJC’s next agenda and was prepared to move that the council recommend the Board of County Commissioners add the chair appointment to the commissioners’ agenda.
No formal action by the Board of County Commissioners was reported during the SRLJC meeting. SRLJC members asked staff to collect contact information for Jones so she could be contacted about the status of her application.
Why it matters: the vacancy affects the council’s ability to staff a standing racial equity committee the SRLJC’s bylaws and county practice anticipate. Council members framed the issue as both a procedural compliance matter and a community-representation concern.
What’s next: SRLJC members said they will consider a motion at the next SRLJC meeting to recommend that the county commissioners address the vacancy; council staff will attempt to confirm and report the status of pending applications to the council prior to that meeting.
