Mercer Island council to open process to fill vacant seat; appointment deadline tied to 90-day rule

Mercer Island City Manager Jessie Bohn said the City Council will consider an agenda bill at its May 6 meeting directing staff to begin the process of filling the council vacancy left after a March departure and that state timelines require action within 90 days of the vacancy.

Bohn said the city will run the appointment process through May, interview candidates and expect the council to make an appointment by June. "We have 90 days from the date the ... council member Jacobson was vacated, which was the day he passed away in March. So this council has to make that appointment by June," Bohn said. She added that if the council fails to appoint someone within the statutory timeframe, King County will fill the seat.

Bohn also explained how the vacancy interacts with the election calendar: the seat will be on the November ballot and, if filled by election certification, will be sworn in after certification. The council seat up this year will be for the remaining two years of the term. The city clerk confirmed the council’s rules of procedure and the city code guide the vacancy process.

No formal appointment occurred at the orientation; staff said the council will vote at a future public meeting. The city plans to solicit applicants, interview candidates in public sessions and then take a recorded council vote to appoint a member or allow the county to act if the deadline is not met.

The city described the timing as intended to give space to mourn the late member before conducting recruitment and interviews.