1.28.180 Procedure for Appointments to Vacant Council Positions, and Other Vacant Elected Positions.
A. When a vacancy occurs on the Pierce County Council, as defined in Section 4.70(1) of the Pierce County Charter, and the County Central Committee of the appropriate party as designated in Section 4.70(2) of the Pierce County Charter has submitted a list of three names to the Council, the Council shall interview each of the three people on the list in a Regular or Special Meeting open to the public. Discussion of the qualifications of the three candidates may be held by the Council in Executive Session. Following the Executive Session, the Chair of the Council shall reconvene the Special Meeting and a Resolution shall be introduced for adoption by a majority of the Council appointing the new Councilmember.
B. When a vacancy occurs in a nonpartisan, nonjudicial elective office, the Council shall advertise for that position in a newspaper of general circulation, in the official County newspaper, and on the County's web page. The appointment process shall commence upon the announced deadline for submitting applications.
An Ad Hoc Committee (Committee) will be appointed by the Rules and Operations Committee to review all applications received. The Committee shall select no more than five names of qualified candidates for each vacancy. The selected names shall be submitted to the Council. The Council shall interview each of the candidates in a Regular or Special meeting open to the public. Discussion of the qualifications of the candidates may be held by the Committee or Council in Executive Session. The appointment shall be made by adoption of a Resolution by a majority of the Council in a public meeting.
C. Within 60 days of the occurrence of any vacancy in Pierce County District Court, the County Council will place an announcement of the vacancy(ies) on the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association, the Washington State Bar Association, the News Tribune, and Pierce County websites.
Individuals who are interested in applying for the position will be required to complete a Pierce County Employment Application. A brief resume may be submitted with the Application, along with no more than three references. Application forms can be obtained on the County's website.
The Clerk of the Council (Clerk) shall submit a copy of all applications to the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association's Judicial Qualifications Committee (JQC) for its review and rating by an announced deadline. Concurrent with the JQC's review, and under the same timeline, the Chair of the Council will request, through the County Executive, that the Sheriff conduct a background check on all applicants.
The Clerk will forward a copy of each application packet, including the JQC's ratings, to an Ad Hoc Committee for review. The Ad Hoc Committee will consist of:
1. President of the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association;
2. Presiding Judge of Pierce County District Court;
3. President of the Minority Bar Association of Pierce County;
4. Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney or designee;
5. At-Large Community Member selected by the Council's Rules and Operations Committee; and
6. Chief Legal Counsel to the Pierce County Council.
It is the responsibility of the Ad Hoc Committee to review all applications received, and submit a list of all candidates to the Council grouped in at least two tiers, from highest to lowest recommended priority, and listed in alphabetical order within each tier.
The Ad Hoc Committee, the JQC and the Sheriff will forward their information to the Clerk for distribution to Councilmembers. The Council will conduct interviews in a meeting open to the public, and may convene in Executive Session to discuss the qualifications of the candidates. The Appointment shall be made by adoption of a Resolution of the Council in a public meeting, following all applicable rules and requirements.
Questions about this procedure may be directed to the Council's Chief Legal Counsel or the Legal Clerk at 253-798-7777.