Council affirms mayor’s transit-board pick after heated exchange over authority

Sedro-Woolley’s council confirmed the mayor’s appointment to the county transit board after an extended debate over who has authority to appoint and remove municipal representatives.

Mayor Casty asked the council to confirm her selection of Council Member D. Young as the city’s representative on the Skagit-area transit board. The request followed written back-and-forth with the transit agency’s chief executive, who urged continuity and objected to a mid-term replacement.

City Attorney Dan Curtis advised the council that, in his view, the mayor of a mayor–council city holds executive appointment authority unless the council legislatively narrows that power. He cited state statutes and the structure of local government in explaining the legal basis for the mayor’s action.

Scadget Transit CEO Crystal Stum and an incumbent councilor who serves on the transit board argued for board continuity and warned that removing a sitting board member mid-term could disrupt governance. The incumbent, Paul, asked to remain on the board and said the board had asked him to help implement an advertising policy that would generate revenue for the agency.

Council Member Allen Henderson moved to confirm the mayor’s appointment; Council Member Lvaka seconded. After discussion, the motion passed 3–2. Council members in favor said confirming the mayor’s selection respected the city’s executive authority and the need for predictable representation; opponents said the agency’s bylaws and the value of continuity argued against a mid-term replacement.

What’s next: the city clerk will transmit the confirmation to Scadget Transit and staff will continue to monitor any agency bylaw changes and legal guidance from the state.