The Chehalis City Council appointed Allen Unzelman — of the local law firm Vander Stoep, Blinks, Jones & Unzelman — as the new Chehalis Municipal Court judge during Monday night’s council meeting.
He was one of four candidates who applied for the position, which became available on April 30 after former Chehalis Municipal Court judge Dale McBeth retired. Unzelman will serve under a four-year contract.
Aside from his work at the law firm, Unzelman serves as hearings examiner and judge pro-tem for Chehalis and as the municipal court judge for both Napavine and Winlock, Chehalis City Manager Jill Anderson said. He also represents The Chronicle.
Anderson told the council Unzelman was chosen due to both his qualifications and the fact he is not currently a city employee, allowing the city to place him under contract for the position rather than keep him on the payroll as a city employee.
“The terms of his service put him as a contract employee with no benefits. This is a change from the previous judge who was an actual (city) employee with employee benefits,” Anderson said.
Under the new contract, Unzelman will be paid $5,000 per month with no benefits. McBeth’s monthly salary was $3,481 with benefits included.
While Unzelman’s salary is higher than McBeth’s, the lack of benefits will save the city money in the long run. The city is expected to save $18,228 under the move, Anderson said.
His appointment was approved by the Chehalis City Council 6-0, with Councilor Isaac Pope abstaining.
“I just want to say thank you very much for the opportunity,” Unzelman said after his appointment was approved, later adding, “This is a huge opportunity and, rest assured, not one I take lightly. I consider myself a product of Chehalis because I grew up here and was raised in part by the community — not just because I worked for (Chehalis City Councilor Daryl Lund) in high school at the Chehalis Theater.”
The Chehalis Municipal Court is located inside Chehalis City Hall at 350 N. Market Blvd., room 105.
For more information, visit https://www.ci.chehalis.wa.us/municipalcourt.
