EVERETT — The Lynnwood City Council unanimously appointed Chelsea Wright to its open position Monday night.
Position 6 on the council became vacant Jan. 1 after George Hurst began his mayoral term.
The city received 24 applications for the position. After narrowing the pool, the council interviewed 10 applicants on Jan. 20.
Wright is the chair of the city’s diversity, equity and inclusion commission. She’s lived in Lynnwood for more than 15 years.
“My involvement in community is important to me,” Wright said in her Jan. 20 interview. “Everything I do revolves around equity and community.”
Wright works for the state labor and industries department as a program specialist for the Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention program and the Work Equity Research Center. She also serves as president of the Washington chapter of Rho Sigma Alpha, a non-collegiate sorority.
In her interview, she told the council she would hit the ground running if appointed, meeting with department directors and digging into the city’s budget challenges. The city faces a gap of about $5 million it must fill by the end of the year.
“Every city, county and state agency is feeling the pinch, but I live in Lynnwood, and it’s Lynnwood residents who will be impacted by how this council decides to vote,” Wright said.
Wright said she’d prioritize gathering community input about the budget crisis and encourage residents to look through finance records available online.
“Tough decisions must be made, but they cannot be made without the feedback of those it’s going to affect,” she said. “Having those conversations is extremely important.”
As someone who has seen Lynnwood grow over the past 15 years, Wright said she appreciates that Lynnwood can still feel like a small town. She’d look to preserve a sense of community and diversity.
Wright also said she’d work with the council to bring more small businesses to the city and work with local unions.
Last year, Wright applied for the vacant seat left by Julieta Altamirano-Crosby after she resigned to serve as a commissioner for the Snohomish County Public Utility District. After two appointees withdrew from consideration, Wright and several other applicants withdrew as well. Council member Robert Leutwyler was appointed to the seat after becoming the sole remaining candidate.
Wright will be sworn into Position 6 at the council’s next meeting on Monday.
“This city is important to all of us,” Wright said. “What’s coming is important to all of us. We know that there are some very hard decisions that have to be made. Some are going to be very unpopular, and some might be super popular. I encourage the council and citizens to make their voices heard. Your voice is important.”
Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.
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