City councilmembers choose Kirsten Harris-Talley to join them through November

(Added – reader photo via text (thank you!): Councilmember Harris-Talley taking the oath of office)

City Councilmembers have chosen Kirsten Harris-Talley to fill the temporary Position 8 (citywide) vacancy left when Tim Burgess became interim mayor, and she has just been sworn in. Harris-Talley is a Hillman City resident whose background you can read here. She will serve until the results of next month’s election – with Teresa Mosqueda and Jon Grant running for the permanent position – are certified.

Jeanne October 6, 2017 (3:38 pm)

So excited to have KHT representing us!!

steve October 6, 2017 (11:44 pm)

Yea. Another unqualified activist on the council! When will there be a qualified person on the council?

WSB October 7, 2017 (8:23 am)

What specific qualifications do you think a councilmember should have?
- NSAlki October 7, 2017 (8:52 am)
  
  I don’t care much about which specific qualifications a candidate does or does not possess.
  
  I am concerned that she will further cripple law enforcement and blame the city’s problems on businesses. I have yet to see the right to shelter wherever you want work out well for the people involved. We need an actual plan to help addicts and people who have to live on the streets. I am not convinced she has one beyond the usual talking points and feel good fuzz.
  
  It would be nice to see at least someone on the city council who is a bit moderate and not so far to the left.

Mark October 7, 2017 (3:36 pm)

NSAlki

I agree a pragmatic center left person is needed. Another activist was not needed

I suspect any good candidate was not willing to disrupt their schedule, quit work for example, for two months.

Not sure why the spot simply was not simply left vacant for the couple months remaining?

Michael Waldo October 7, 2017 (5:47 pm)

“What specific qualifications do you think a council member should have?”.

How about knowing how to manage a budget.

How about instead of “social Justice” we have elected officials focus on roads, bridges, parking, balanced budgets, sidewalks, Building codes, garbage pick up.

You know, running a city.

WSB October 7, 2017 (6:02 pm)

Those all have been part of council business in recent weeks and months, in one way or another. (Trust me, I read all the agendas, looking for WS-specific items.) Seldom in ways or to the extent everyone would agree with – there’s not much up for political consideration that wins unanimous acclaim – but they have been addressed, and they certainly are all part of the budget that’s now going through review. (Even bridges – did you see our mention of the pilot project to operate swing-bridge openings? And then there’s the construction starting next year on the Lander Street Bridge …) Meantime, if you don’t believe the City Council should strive to remedy social injustice, then, who should? The county? State legislators? Congress? Leave it to the free market and private citizens if they feel like it?

Mark October 7, 2017 (7:53 pm)

Providing a levelling of the playing field is appropriate when conducted in a pragmatic mannen. But their also needs to be accountability, everyone needs to be treated equally by the rules. People who fail to abide by the rules need to be dealt with in a tougher manner than what is occurring currently.

Sorry, comment time is over.