Redmond opens applications to fill vacant council seat; interviews set Jan. 13 and Jan. 20

Redmond Mayor Angela Birney and Council President Vanessa Krisser on Wednesday described the city’s process to appoint a replacement for a council seat vacated after Council member Slahuddin won a legislative seat and resigned. Applications for the appointment are due Jan. 2, the city said, and the council plans in-person interviews Jan. 13 with final interviews and an anticipated appointment during the Jan. 20 council meeting.

The appointment timeline matters because, Birney said, "the council has until the February to appoint the position." Applicants will submit answers and a resume; Krisser said the council will score the first round "name blind" to reduce bias and use those scores to create a shortlist for interviews. All interviews will be conducted in person, she said.

Why it matters: the council will select someone who joins a seven-member body responsible for passing ordinances, resolutions and the biennial city budget; the appointed person would serve until the next municipal election cycle and may choose to run for the seat. Birney reminded applicants that the appointment flows through King County Elections and any appointee who wishes to run will face the next required filing and campaign calendar.

Details the city provided in the session: - Vacancy: Birney said, "Council member Slahuddin was elected as into the legislature, and so he has resigned." (session opening remarks). - Deadline: "Applications are due January 2." (Birney). - Interview schedule: initial in-person interviews Jan. 13; final interviews and hoped-for appointment at the Jan. 20 council meeting. - Review process: Krisser said the council will score initial application answers blind to names to reduce bias and select a short list for interviews.

What applicants should know: the council expects candidates to answer application questions that will be used for initial scoring, to be available for in-person interviews, and to be prepared to engage with the public and participate in council meetings and committees if appointed. Krisser said the council will look for "diversity of perspective and experience" and for candidates who can contribute viewpoints the council currently lacks.

Next steps: the council intends to make the appointment at the Jan. 20 meeting and, if made, the appointee would be sworn in that evening. For application materials and any corrections to posted details (including compensation figures discussed at the session), the city directed prospective applicants to the council page on Redmond’s website and the meeting information center.