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Pierce County Council interviews three candidates for District 5 seat, defers appointment to Jan. 14
Summary
After public interviews and comment on three nominees to replace the District 5 council seat, the Pierce County Council met in executive session and voted to continue the appointment decision to a Jan. 14 meeting.
The Pierce County Council interviewed three nominees to fill the District 5 vacancy on Jan. 7, then met in executive session and voted to continue the appointment process to Jan. 14.
The interviews began after staff briefed the council on legal and procedural requirements under the Washington Constitution and the Pierce County Charter. The county’s list of nominees — Kimber Starr, Brian Yambi and Jeremy Williams — came from the county central committee of the relevant political party. Each candidate was asked six questions by council members and given three minutes per question. After public comment, the council entered executive session to evaluate the candidates’ qualifications and returned to open session with no appointment.
Why it matters: The appointed council member will serve until the next general election and represent a district that includes populated unincorporated areas and Port of Tacoma–adjacent communities. Council counsel told members the appointee must be from the same district and political party as the vacating member and that the governor would appoint from the same list if the council cannot agree within 60 days.
During public testimony, supporters and local organizations spoke for different candidates. Dozens of written and oral comments were recorded: some speakers praised Kimber Starr for community advocacy, tribal relations experience and planning work; others, including labor and public safety leaders and tribal representatives, urged the council to appoint Brian Yambi, citing his record as Fife deputy mayor and existing relationships with Port and labor stakeholders. Several attendees stressed the importance of a district representative who can work across jurisdictions on transportation, port infrastructure and public safety.
Council procedure and outcome - Counsel (Miss Long) briefed the council on RCW and Pierce County Charter requirements for filling a partisan vacancy and described the multi-step appointment resolution process. - The council interviewed the three nominees in public session; candidates gave detailed answers about housing, public safety, tribal relations, port infrastructure and collaborative governance. - After interviews and public comment, the council entered executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(h) to evaluate qualifications; no action was taken in executive session. - Council member Paul Herrera moved to continue the appointment process to Jan. 14, 2025; the motion was seconded and the council approved it.
Council members who asked questions during the interviews included Denson, Hitchen, Krueger, Kuver, Ayala and Herrera. Candidates described priorities such as homelessness and public safety (Starr), port and freight infrastructure and neighborhood fixes (Yambi), and housing, transit and zoning (Williams). Several speakers from labor unions, tribal leadership and neighborhood groups addressed the council during the public hearing portion.
Next steps: The council will reconvene on Jan. 14, 2025, to take further action on Resolution R2024-268 to fill the District 5 vacancy. If the council cannot agree on an appointment within the statutorily proscribed time, the governor may appoint from the same list of nominees.
