Community Transit fills four board vacancies

EVERETT — Four new board members have been selected to join the Community Transit board of directors.

Lynnwood City Councilwoman Lisa Utter, Mill Creek City Councilman Mike Todd, Mountlake Terrace Mayor Jerry Smith and Sultan City Councilman Steve Slawson were selected Thursday by the other members of the board to serve through January.

The members were chosen in a special election by the five other board members to fill out terms of four members who had resigned this past year, according to Community Transit.

The board is made up of elected officials from cities in Community Transit’s service area, which covers much of Snohomish County, excluding Everett and some outlying areas. Sales tax to support the bus service is collected in the area.

The new members bring the board’s total back up to its customary nine. The other current board members are Brier City Councilman Carlton Gipson, who serves as chairman; Snohomish County Councilman Dave Gossett, vice chairman; Marysville Mayor Dennis Kendall; Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine; and Snohomish County Councilman Mike Cooper.

Slawson and Smith are new to the board. Todd and Utter were alternate board members before being elected regular board members.

The new members will serve until a new Community Transit board is selected by the member cities in January. Regular board elections take place in January of even-numbered years, following municipal elections.

The board is set up to have two representatives from larger cities with a population of more than 30,000; three from cities with a population of 10,000 to 30,000; and two from cities with a population of less than 10,000. Also, two members of the Snohomish County Council serve on the board.

Two new alternates were chosen to replace Todd and Utter. Edmonds City Councilman Steve Bernheim is a large-cities alternate and Monroe City Councilman John Stima represents medium-sized cities.

Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.