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Issaquah council advances Donovan Richards and Erica Boyd as finalists for vacant seat
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Summary
After hearing eight candidate presentations, the Issaquah City Council met in executive session and voted unanimously to advance Donovan Richards and Erica Boyd to finalist interviews on April 20 for the vacant Position 3.
The Issaquah City Council on April 7 heard presentations from eight applicants for the vacant Position 3 and, after a closed executive session, voted to advance Donovan Richards and Erica Boyd as finalists for interviews on April 20.
Donovan Richards, who said he has lived in Issaquah for about 10 years and co-founded a pilot nonprofit called Culture and Service, told the council rising housing costs are shutting out people who could contribute to the community: “If a family that’s above the median income is unable to make Issaquah home, how many people are kept out of this community?” Richards described professional experience managing a $6,000,000 account and said his work focuses on building accountability and stakeholder relationships.
Erica Boyd, a senior legislative assistant to a state representative and a member of the city’s Transportation Advisory Board, emphasized human services, youth policy and coordination across partners. Boyd said the city must maintain equitable access to services as housing increases and backed a new parks levy that would fund community-informed parks and green amenities.
Other applicants highlighted transportation, housing and downtown preservation as top priorities. A candidate who identified as a regional account manager at Lehigh (a Rocky Brands subsidiary) expressed support for transit-oriented development, light rail planning and formation of a tax-increment financing district for projects that need sustained support. Mark Rigos highlighted decades of engineering and public-works experience as a tool for council oversight of transportation and infrastructure. Adam Fusch urged a “test-driven” approach to city code and predevelopment to avoid unintended consequences.
Mayor Mullet announced an executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(h) to review applicants’ qualifications; the council recessed at 7:23 p.m. and reopened at 8:12 p.m. Councilmember Joe nominated Donovan Richards; Councilmember Walsh nominated Erica Boyd. After a brief discussion, the council voted by voice to advance a two-person slate of Donovan Richards and Erica Boyd to the April 20 interview round. The chair reported the motion passed unanimously.
The council said the April 20 meeting will include roughly 90 minutes of regular business followed by finalist interviews late in the agenda, with randomized question order and procedures intended to keep the interviews even. The clerk will notify applicants who advance. The meeting then adjourned.
