The Pierce County Council currently has six members. Three are Democrat and three are Republican. That split is preventing the election of a Council Chair. That split is also preventing organizing the Council, choosing committee assignments and more.

The Council has up to 60 days to choose the person who will fill the seat. As long as it is deadlocked on choosing the replacement for Marty Campbell, it prevents the newly elected County Executive from beginning to enact his agenda too.

January 22 is an administrative hearing on the Good Neighbor Village decision by the Hearing Examiner. The new County Executive cannot put through legislation to make any changes to the situation left by the previous executive.

Games? You bet. Today, January 14, is a Council meeting at 3 p.m. Testify and tell them to stop the games, fill the seat and get on with the work the people elected these representatives to enact.

UPDATE: Proclamations happened at the January 14 meeting, but the following activities that allow the Council to reorganize for 2025 were put off again to January 21, 2025. The Council cannot do business until this appointment is complete.

R2024-266	A Resolution of the Pierce County Council Establishing the Council’s Standing Committees; Naming the Committee Memberships and Officers; and Setting Meeting Times for Standing Committee Meetings for 2025.
R2024-267	A Resolution of the Pierce County Council Making Appointments of Councilmembers and Staff to Positions on External Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Other Organizations for the Year 2025.

After more questions to each candidate and a 20-minute Executive Session, the Council returned and voted. CM Denson moved to appoint Bryan Yambe and the Council voted 3 Democrats for, 3 Republicans against. Then CM Denson mover Kimber Starr and the same split Council vote occurred. Then CM Denson moved to Appoint Jeremy WIlliams, once again 3 Democrats for and 3 Republicans against. DIscussion followed with the Democrats wanting a decision and CM Cruver and CM Morell both stating they wanted more time to consider this very important decision.

Questions were asked of the Council Lawyer who state they have 3 choices. First is to table the decision to another date certain. Second is to Postpone the decision indefinitely. Third, is to vote it down completely, leaving the seat vacant. At 60 days, the choice to fill the vacant is punted by law to the Governor of Washington.

You can see by the above resolutions that the duties of the Council are not really able to move until this appoinment is made. The body is likely to keep putting off committee assignments until the Council has filled the position and can officially select the Chair of the Council followed by all the official Committees.

CM Denson said she wished to make a decision tonight, so the Council returned again to Executive Session.

UPDATE: After the second executive session the Council returned and CM Herrera restated that this was a serious decision and, “Not a game.” (I wonder where they got that language?). Then followed by choosing Bryan Yambe as the new Council District #5 member. The Council then went into recess before returning to swear in the new member before taking further votes.