The City of Olympia will likely seek applications for a new city councilmember as soon as November 27, as Councilmember Lisa Parshley has pledged to resign as soon as her election to the state legislature is certified.
Parshley was elected to the city council in 2017 and has served for seven years. While state law allows someone to serve concurrently in the Legislature and a city council, Parshley told The JOLT that she intends to resign so she can focus on being a state representative.
"I have a personal ethic that I should only step up to do a job if I can give it my all. In my personal opinion, being both a state representative and an Olympia City Council member will mean that at one time or another I will not be giving my whole to one of these jobs," she said.
At its monthly dinner meeting yesterday, city council members discussed the timeline for replacing Parshley. The process is set to begin the day after the Thurston County Auditor certifies the results of the election for Legislative District 22, Representative Position 2. As of yesterday's reporting, Parshley received 42,001 votes, or 62.66% of votes for that office.
The city council will solicit applications to serve the remainder of Parshley's term, rate and rank applicants and conduct interviews before selecting its new member. Whomever the council appoints would likely serve from mid-January 2025 until the position's term ends on December 31, 2025, unless elected in the general election next year.
Interested community members must apply online and have the following documents to be submitted by the deadline, likely expected to be at 4 p.m. Friday, December 13:
To qualify, an applicant must live inside Olympia city limits and meet other criteria to be detailed by the city soon.
The process will include ranking of applications by the entire council on or by January 7, followed by interviews on January 13. Once selected, the new councilmember would be sworn in on January 14 or 21.
The council seeks to seat its new member prior its annual planning retreat, set for Friday and Saturday, January 24-25.
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Boatyarddog
Thank you councilman Parshley,
I haven't always agreed with the Direction of our City, especially in early years of your term.
I do believe you will do well representing Washington and it's People.
Congratulations
Thursday, November 14 Report this
Boatyarddog
I apologize for the Misprint, Jolt throws curve balls at times.
And I cannot edit.
Council Woman
Thursday, November 14 Report this
Chrisj98592
I would hope the city council do their due diligence in verifying applicants actual residential address unlike they did with Parshley. How can you trust a politician who can’t even be honest as to where they live!
Thursday, November 14 Report this
KimDobson
Dear City Council , In your deliberations to find a replacement for Ms Parshley . Please no more applicants who serve the Development Community ,Speculators , Wealthy architects ,Master Builders or Chamber of Commerce . We already have had too many former and current council persons that fit this description . Please pick from applicants who have no connection to attitudes of growth at any cost , Please took a look at this example : Multi Family Tax Exemptions in the next 8 years =15 million and counting -property tax increases averaging 70 to 80 dollars per year were shifted to Olympia's homeowners . MFTE exemptions are at tax payers expense gifted to wealthy down town developers Thank You , Yours , KIm Dobson Thurston County Taxpayer and PCO Frye Cove 194
Thursday, November 14 Report this
AugieH
Dr. Parshley is a veterinarian oncologist who successfully treated one of our cats for intestinal lymphoma. She has our gratitude.
Friday, November 15 Report this