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Ferndale council names Nina LaSalle to fill vacant seat after candidate interviews
Summary
After interviewing three finalists, the Ferndale City Council voted unanimously to appoint municipal finance professional Nina LaSalle to a seat vacated earlier this year. Councilmembers cited LaSalle’s grants and municipal finance experience as the deciding factor; she was sworn in the same evening.
The Ferndale City Council voted unanimously to appoint Nina LaSalle to its vacant seat, following interviews of three finalists at a special meeting on May 26, 2026. Councilmember Mikulski moved the appointment, which was seconded and approved 4-0. LaSalle’s term was noted as running through Dec. 31, 2027; the council agreed the appointment would take effect at the designated procedural point in the regular meeting.
Councilmembers said LaSalle’s municipal finance and grant-management background set her apart during the panel of questions. “With your grants background, with your municipal finance background, and the ability to point out a threat of truth that I can pull on to potentially find funding for the thing that is one of the most important things in this town… that level of transparency and knowledge was greatly appreciated,” a councilmember said during discussion (speaker 11).
LaSalle, who had been introduced to the council during the special meeting’s candidate interviews, told the council she supported rehabbing an existing community center rather than building new and emphasized outreach and measured decision-making in budgeting. After the vote she was sworn in and said briefly from the podium, “I won't let you guys down.”
The council’s appointment followed a structured interview process run by city staff: each candidate answered the same eight questions in alphabetical order, with time limits and follow-up from council members. Council discussion touched on candidates’ experience with community center planning, affordable housing metrics, environmental priorities like tree preservation, and communication styles.
Next steps: LaSalle will assume the appointed seat at the procedural point agreed in the meeting and participate in the council’s regular business going forward. The council also encouraged new appointees to participate in boards and commissions and noted staff will provide onboarding materials and contact points for departments.
