MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — A veteran City Council member is stepping down next week and the process of replacing him is under way.
Doug McCardle, who has served on the council since 2009, will leave office Dec. 15, creating a vacancy in Position 3.
He’s not leaving Mountlake Terrace, where he has lived for two decades. With the demands of a new job as principal of Northshore Christian Academy and a desire to spend time with his grandchildren, McCardle said he felt he couldn’t put in the time needed to be an effective council member.
“It’s been a great time,” he said. “I’ll miss the cohesiveness of the council. We work well as a team. We have a shared vision of where we want the city go. Even if we disagree, in the end we all agree on what’s best for the city.”
McCardle won his seat in 2009. He was re-elected three times, most recently in 2021.
He cited building of a new City Hall, completing the first phase of the Main Street revitalization project and laying a foundation for the arrival of light rail as highlights of his tenure. One disappointment? Not restoring the street maintenance program to pre-recession levels.
The remaining six City Council members will appoint a person to fill the vacancy. That person will serve through certification of the November 2023 election. That person then could choose whether to seek re-election for the remainder of the term through 2025.
To qualify, each candidate must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen without felony history, and a registered voter who has lived in Mountlake Terrace for at least one year.
Those interested can apply online on the city’s website. Applicants are asked to answer five questions including why they are interested in serving. Applications can be submitted in person or by mail as well. The deadline to turn in materials is 4 p.m. Dec. 28.
The City Council plans to interview candidates at a special meeting in January or February. A decision could be made at the meeting. That person would be sworn in, tentatively, at a meeting in February, according to a news release from the city.
In 2023, members of the City Council will receive $955 per month as payment for their services and to reimburse out-of-pocket expenses related to regular duties and responsibilities. The mayor, who is elected from among the City Council members for a two-year term, will receive the sum of $1,167 per month.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623;
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