EVERETT — Five women and two men have a shot at being appointed to Shannon Affholter’s former City Council seat.
Council members hope to reach a final decision at their regular 6:30 p.m. meeting next Wednesday. Public interviews with each candidate are scheduled to begin before the meeting, starting at 3 p.m.
A dozen people applied for the council’s Position 7, which Affholter left to take a job leading the region’s largest homebuilders group. The council on Wednesday narrowed the field to seven.
“Congratulations to all of those moving forward,” Council President Jeff Moore said. “We have some very difficult work to do.”
To cut the field, each of the six current council members on Wednesday put forward two nominees. The original plan was to have six finalists, but the council opted to interview all seven who got at least one vote of support.
June Robinson received three nominations — the most of any candidate. Robinson is the only finalist who has run in recent City Council elections. She lost in 2011 to veteran Councilman Ron Gipson and again last year to first-time candidate Scott Bader.
Robinson, 54, lives in northwest Everett. Her career has centered on managing community health and affordable housing programs.
Three candidates received two votes each: Rich Anderson, Elly Smith and Judy Tuohy.
Anderson, 59, has been a partner at an Everett accounting firm for 30 years. His long record of civic engagement includes service on advisory boards for business, government and charities. He lives in the Northwest Neighborhood.
Smith, 60, is a real estate agent who’s been involved with civic issues in her Lowell neighborhood for about 25 years. Smith said she wants to work to support police, code enforcement and the redevelopment of the Riverfront Property.
Tuohy, 59, has worked since 1995 as the executive director of the Schack Art Center. She has about a decade of service on tourism-related advisory boards for Snohomish County. She lives near Forest Park.
Three others received one vote each: Art Thomson, Megan Dunn and Kim Nielsen.
Thomson, 55, from the Boulevard Bluffs neighborhood, is a commercial real estate broker and professional engineer. He serves as chairman of the city’s Board of Park Commissioners.
Dunn, 37, of Lowell, works as a research analyst and a postpartum doula. She’s been an active leader in human services and neighborhood issues, including efforts to rid local parks of chemical pesticides. She’s an elected Democratic precinct committee officer.
Nielsen, 57, from the Northwest Neighborhood, works at a nonprofit supporting homeless teens. She previously worked as an analyst and manager with aerospace companies. She’s been an active volunteer with several local groups and causes. She’s the widow of former City Councilman Drew Nielsen.
The winner is to be sworn in at the council’s Nov. 20 meeting.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
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