Lake Stevens council appoints Kurt Hilt as interim mayor in unanimous vote

The Lake Stevens City Council unanimously appointed Kurt Hilt as interim mayor following council interviews and closed deliberations, the council announced June 15. Council members cast a roll-call vote in favor of Hilt after nominations and brief comment from the clerk; the motion carried without opposition.

Kurt Hilt, who identified himself during his interview as a fire captain and a former city council member, told the panel he favors a collaborative, relational leadership style and said his first priorities would be reviewing the city budget and addressing public-safety staffing shortfalls. “I think the number one responsibility of the mayor position is to be honest with his constituents as well as city council,” Hilt said during his interview.

During interviews and council discussion, candidates emphasized several recurring issues in Lake Stevens: growing revenue without raising taxes, partnerships to expand recreational facilities, addressing police staffing shortages and seeking regional cooperation to improve Highway 9 and the trestle through downtown. One candidate urged a stronger focus on generating economic growth to fund core services; another prioritized listening and staff support.

Council members said public sentiment and recent election results figured into their judgments. Council President summarized staff survey feedback, saying directors sought a mayor who demonstrates integrity, sound judgment, approachability and a willingness to remove barriers for staff. Several council members also cited the recent municipal election as a data point that influenced whether they could support a candidate who had recently lost a citywide vote.

Nominations opened in open session. Council Member Packard nominated Kurt Hilt; a colleague seconded the nomination. Clerk Shelon conducted a roll-call vote: Packard, Shipman, Aria, Edwards, Donahghue and Jarstad all voted yes. The clerk announced the result as unanimous and confirmed Hilt's appointment.

The council indicated a press release will be issued with the timetable for Hilt’s start date. Council members closed the meeting with brief remarks thanking all applicants for stepping forward; the meeting was then adjourned.

Actions and next steps recorded by council staff include formalizing the appointment paperwork and distributing the public announcement. The council did not record any amendments or additional policy directives tied to the appointment during the open session.

(Reporting note: quotes and characterizations in this article are drawn from the council's public interview and deliberation transcript. The council referenced state law during the process as “RCW 423110” when explaining its authority to hold an executive session.)