Snohomish County Democrats are preparing to caucus Feb. 6 to nominate appointees for a vacant County Council seat, as a new name joins the list of hopefuls.

The council’s District 5 position opened up at the beginning of the year. Dave Somers, a Democrat, left it to take office as county executive. The post represents eastern Snohomish County, including the areas of Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Monroe and the U.S. 2 corridor.

Mark Hintz, a former chairman of the Snohomish County Democrats, recently announced his interest in the post. The 66-year-old lives northeast of Snohomish and serves as a Fire District 4 commissioner. He has a business background and works on renewable natural gas projects.

Hintz’s entry puts him in competition with the presumed frontrunner, state Rep. Hans Dunshee, of Snohomish.

Hintz said he’s in it to win, but will support whomever gets the most votes from precinct committee officers.

“That’s one thing I will honor: The top voter getter by precinct committee officers is the one who should be appointed,” Hintz said.

It’s up to the County Council to pick from among three party nominees, which include Guy Palumbo.

In 2013, council members unanimously backed John Lovick, the party’s top choice for the county executive’s job. In 2009, however, a 3-2 council majority supported appointing veteran deputy prosecutor Mark Roe as prosecuting attorney over Jim Kenny, a fire commissioner and assistant Seattle city prosecutor with more support from party activists.

Dunshee wants the county job, but also has committed to serving this year in Olympia, where he’s been appointed the lead budget writer for the majority party. The legislative session is scheduled to start Monday and continue through March 10.

Dunshee, 62, has served in the state House for 20 years.

Palumbo, 42, lives near Maltby and serves as a Fire District 7 commissioner. He’s the chairman of the county planning commission, an appointed position.

Palumbo owns Roscoe’s Ranch, a dog-boarding business, and earlier worked in high tech at Amazon.

“Those are the only three names I’m hearing right now,” county Democratic Party chairman Richard Wright wrote in an email.

The Feb. 6 caucus is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. at the Everett Labor Temple, 2812 Lombard Ave. A candidate forum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26 in the same building.

Until making the appointment, the County Council will remain short-handed with four members. To remain in office, the District 5 appointee will have to win a special election in November and run again in 2017 for a full four-year term.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.