Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Council Vacancy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Anacortes council adopts process to fill Ward 1 vacancy after debate over executive session
Summary
The council adopted a staff‑proposed process to fill the Ward 1 vacancy (applications due Feb. 3), after debate over whether candidate deliberations should occur in executive session; council voted to keep the executive‑session option and adopted the full process.
Anacortes — The Anacortes City Council on Jan. 5 adopted a process to fill the Ward 1 vacancy created when Ryan Walters resigned the ward seat to become mayor effective Jan. 1, 2026. The adopted schedule accepts applications through Feb. 3 at noon; applicants who meet eligibility will be given three‑minute in‑person statements on Feb. 9; council will narrow candidates (optionally in executive session) and rehear finalists on Feb. 16 with a final open‑session appointment.
Presentation: HR Director Bridal Moyle explained eligibility requirements (must be a Ward 1 resident, a city resident for at least one year immediately preceding appointment and a registered voter in the city) and said staff will verify eligibility. Moyle said all submissions are public record and written public comments will be accepted; the mayor has no role in selection other than to run the meeting and break ties.
Council debate: Council members split on whether initial deliberations to narrow candidates should occur in executive session to protect candidate privacy or in open session for transparency. Mister Fantini moved to proceed with the advertised process but strike the executive‑session component; after objection from Miss Moulton that the executive session option should be retained, the motion failed. Moulton then moved to adopt the process as proposed (including the executive‑session option); that motion passed.
Key dates and process details (as presented by staff): applications due Feb. 3 at noon; Feb. 9 — three‑minute in‑person statements in open session; staff to confirm eligibility after submissions; council may deliberate in executive session to narrow candidates and then hold public interviews and an open‑session appointment on Feb. 16; the successful applicant would be sworn in at the following meeting.
Next steps: Staff will post the application form and begin accepting submissions. Council retained the flexibility to modify the process as candidates and circumstances require.
Provenance: HR director Bridal Moyle’s presentation and the council’s subsequent motions and votes occurred during the Jan. 5 meeting.
