While newly elected Chehalis City Councilor Jody Kyes will be officially sworn in during the council’s first meeting next year on Jan. 8 for the District 4 seat, a District 1 seat formerly held by Jerry Lord remains vacant.
Lord resigned because he moved out of the city at the end of October.
City staff opened the application process for candidates interested in filling the seat as soon as they could. Lord’s official resignation date of Nov. 6.
The deadline to apply is Jan. 11. According to state law, the city has 90 days to choose Lord’s replacement following the official date of his resignation.
Once applications are received, the Chehalis City Council will hold a special meeting on Jan. 18 to interview candidates and vote to choose the new councilor, who will then be sworn in during the regular city council meeting scheduled for Jan. 22 — the last council meeting still within the 90-day deadline.
According to an email from Chehalis City Clerk Kassi Mackie, the city has received one application so far and is hoping to generate more interest.
Those interested in applying must be a registered voter, a resident within District 1 and have lived within city limits for at least a year.
Applications are available to download on the city’s website at https://tinyurl.com/3vn4pjcj. Once completed, applications can be emailed to Mackie at kmackie@ci.chehalis.wa.us.
Additionally, applications can also be picked up and submitted in person at the city clerk’s office, located inside Chehalis City Hall at 350 N. Market St., Chehalis. Applications can also be mailed to that address.
For more information, email Mackie or call the Chehalis city clerk’s office at 360-345-3240.