MUKILTEO — If you ever wanted to hold an elected office without having to run, here’s your chance.
Mukilteo City Councilwoman Anna Rohrbough has vacated the seat she’s held since 2017.
The appointed term lasts until Dec. 31, 2021, and pays $500 a month. The deadline to apply online is June 3.
The sudden resignation of Rohrbough, 47, a leadership coach, was effective last week. After raising two children for 10 years in Mukilteo, the family is moving to California for her husband’s job promotion.
Rohrbough was elected to the four-year council term in 2017.
“I didn’t get in for a particular issue,” she said. “I got in because I wanted to get involved. I think politics are interesting.”
In 2019, she ran as the sole Republican for Snohomish County Council and took nearly 35% of the vote against the seven Democrats in the primary. She lost in the general election to Megan Dunn.
On the Mukilteo council, she was a vocal critic of Mayor Jennifer Gregerson when going after what she calls “corruption.”
“There’s no other way to say it but corruption in the mayor’s office,” Rohrbough said. “The last two and half years has been about bringing to light some of the things that were hidden. I got a lot of flak for it but I got even more support. I stood up for the integrity of our city.”
In August 2018, Rohrbough initiated a no-confidence vote for the mayor in response to what she described as Gregerson’s refusal to take responsibility for not informing the council of severance and other spending decisions. The vote passed 4-2 with Rohrbough and then-councilmembers Christine Cook, Steve Schmalz and Scott Whelpley supporting it. The same four later voted to put a proposal on the November ballot that could boot out the mayor, through a change in the form of government. It was defeated in the election.
“I appreciate her dedication and service and I wish her well in the new phase of her life,” Gregerson said of Rohrbough.
Gregerson also ran for Snohomish County Council in the primary last year, but didn’t receive enough votes to advance.
Rohrbough, a Washington native, said she would have stayed in town if she’d won the county office.
“We would have figured it out,” she said. “My daughter has two years left in high school. My husband would have probably just commuted.”
Gregerson said she expects at least a dozen people to apply for the council seat. Four had applied as of Friday.
The last time the council had to appoint a member was in 2014, when Gregerson left to become mayor. The council will decide by vote, and the mayor can break a tie.
Applicants must include employment, community involvement, three references and a reason for wanting to serve. The information is public record.
Candidate interviews will be conducted online via Zoom as a public meeting with the council members in June.
Andrea Brown: abrown@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3443. Twitter @reporterbrown.
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