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Planning Board elects Lee Hankins chair and John Elke vice chair for 2025
Summary
At its Jan. 8 meeting the Edmonds Planning Board elected Lee Hankins to serve as chair and John Elke as vice chair for 2025. Members discussed succession, continuity and ballot procedures before formalizing the leadership change.
Lee Hankins was elected chair of the Edmonds Planning Board and John Elke was elected vice chair at the board’s Jan. 8, 2025 meeting.
Board members said leadership continuity matters as the board moves into a year of development-code work and follow-up from the comprehensive plan update. The board conducted nominations, accepted one withdrawal and then voted. Hankins said he is prepared to take the role: "I am great, fine with it. And I have the time." John Elke said he would accept the vice chair role if members wished: "I would be fine with that... I'd be happy to."
Members discussed succession and the value of having a vice chair who can become chair the following year to preserve institutional knowledge. Several members argued for a ballot rather than a public show of hands for contested positions to avoid signaling alliances. The vice chair election was conducted by paper ballot to allow remote participation; the board reported the motion passed and John Elke is the 2025 vice chair. The board did not publish a full roll-call tally in the meeting minutes.
The elections followed routine meeting business and were introduced from the floor by board members; motions and seconds were made on the record. The board adjourned other business to proceed with the remainder of its agenda after completing elections.
Votes at a glance: - Election of Lee Hankins as Planning Board chair for 2025 — motion seconded; outcome: approved (vote method: voice; recorded as passed in meeting). Vote tally not specified in the transcript. - Election of John Elke as Planning Board vice chair for 2025 — motion seconded; outcome: approved (vote method: paper ballot); board reported the motion passed; exact tally not specified in the transcript.
The board's new leadership will preside over the planning board’s 2025 calendar, including development-code updates and its planned report to city council.
