EVERETT — The City Council on Wednesday night elected Arlan Hatloe to another year as council president. The vote was 4-1.
Councilman Bob Overstreet, who has a tense relationship with Hatloe, voted no. Councilwoman Marian Krell was absent Wednesday night.
Councilman Mark Olson abstained but said after the meeting that he plans to change his vote to "yes" at next week’s council meeting.
Olson said Hatloe "has certainly been a good person to work with." But he said he abstained to make the point that there should have been advance public notice of the vote, and that it should have taken place in January, when the council’s new term begins.
One of the council members who voted for Hatloe, Dale Pope, lost the Nov. 4 election to Brenda Stonecipher, who takes office in January.
Overstreet agreed that the vote should have taken place in January.
"That gives an opportunity for the new person on the council to have some say," he said.
The City Council has been electing its president in November or December for the past two decades. But Overstreet said it’s time for a change.
Overstreet also said the council presidency should be rotated to give other members a chance to lead the council.
But Pope said now is not the time to change council presidents. With Mayor Ray Stephanson having just taken office on Wednesday, the city would benefit from having continuity in council leadership, he said.
Reporter David Olson: 425-339-3452 or dolson@heraldnet.com
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