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Council narrows Ward 1 appointment field to five; sets rules for Feb. 17 interviews
Summary
After hearing candidate statements, the council advanced a five‑person slate (Courtney Oreck, Sarah Henry, Susanna Clements, Marsha Hunt and John Gasser) to final interviews, set a five‑minute follow‑up statement rule for Feb. 17 and asked each councilmember to submit one question for the packet.
The Anacortes City Council on Feb. 9 took the next formal steps to fill its Ward 1 vacancy by advancing a five‑person slate to final interviews and setting procedures for the Feb. 17 meeting.
HR Director Kendall Moyle summarized the timeline: the Ward 1 vacancy arose when councilmember Ryan Walters was sworn in as mayor on Jan. 1; council has 90 days under state law to fill the seat by appointment and the appointee will serve until the next regular election in fall 2027. The city received 11 public applications by the Feb. 3 deadline (two later withdrew). The council heard 3‑minute introductory statements from the applicants who attended either in person or via Zoom.
After the presentations and an executive session to evaluate qualifications (conducted under RCW 42.30.110(1)(a)), council adopted a process that allows each councilmember (starting at the west end of the dais) an opportunity to nominate up to one candidate for a slate. That process produced five nominees — Courtney Orec/Oruc, Sarah Henry, Susanna Clements, Marsha Hunt and John Gasser — and council voted to advance that slate for final interviews on Feb. 17.
Council also established rules for the next meeting: each candidate will provide a five‑minute follow‑up statement answering questions that councilmembers will submit in advance (the mayor will synthesize submissions into a packet); each councilmember must submit one question by the end of the following day. Council agreed that follow‑up questions from the bench will be permitted at the discretion of the chair after all candidates have spoken.
Why it matters: The appointment fills an elected seat for Ward 1 and places the appointee in committees (including finance) that the council described as facing immediate fiscal challenges. Councilmembers emphasized attributes they are seeking — fiscal awareness, community involvement, independent judgment and the willingness to represent Ward 1 neighborhoods.
Quote: “I would put forward Sarah Henry,” Councilmember Young said when asked to nominate one applicant he wanted to hear more from.
Next steps: Final interviews and a public appointment vote are scheduled for the Feb. 17 meeting; the selected candidate is expected to be sworn in on Feb. 23.
