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Auburn councilmember Larry Brown resigns; council outlines 90-day appointment process
Summary
Councilmember Larry Brown submitted a written resignation effective Feb. 18, 2025. Council reviewed Section 13 of its rules of procedure and confirmed a 90-day window to appoint a replacement or risk county appointment under state law.
Larry Brown, an Auburn City Councilmember, tendered his resignation effective Feb. 18, 2025, the council announced at its Feb. 18 meeting.
City leaders immediately reviewed the council's vacancy process. Deputy Mayor Raikes read Section 13.1 of the council's rules of procedure, saying in part that the council has 90 days from the occurrence of a vacancy to appoint, "by majority vote of a quorum of the remaining members of the council" a qualified person to fill the seat, and that the county may appoint if the council does not act within that timeframe.
The nut of the vacancy procedure: the City Clerk will advertise the open seat in the city's official newspaper; if more than 10 completed applications are received, each councilmember will submit an unranked list of candidates; if 10 or fewer are received, all applicants will be brought forward for consideration. Deputy Mayor Raikes confirmed the council will follow the process and aim to complete an appointment within 90 days so that the county does not assume the responsibility.
During the announcement, the council summarized Brown's service: he began his first term Jan. 1, 2018; served as president of the Washington State Labor Council; spent more than 40 years in the aerospace industry and 23 years working for the union; served on the boards of Communities In Schools of Auburn and Green River College; was a past member of the King County Airport Roundtable Advisory Board at Boeing Field; co-chaired the Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board; and served on the governing board for the Valley Regional Fire Authority. The council noted Brown served as deputy mayor at the start of 2024 and extended best wishes to him and his family.
The announcement was delivered as a formal item on the council agenda; no separate vote or motion was recorded accepting the resignation during the meeting. Council members said they expect to follow the advertised process and return with appointment details in a future meeting.
Looking ahead, the clerk will publish the vacancy notice and collect applications; the council's rules describe how candidates will be advanced to interviews and how the council will vote to fill the unexpired term within the statutory window.
Ending: The council's advertisement and application timeline will determine when candidates are brought forward for interview and an appointment vote; the city clerk will administer that process under the council rules and the statutory timeline.
