Rick Hansen missed out on a Puyallup City Council seat by nine votes in the November election. Now he’ll serve after all.
The City Council appointed Hansen to its vacant District 2 position after conducting interviews with eight finalists in a rare Friday evening meeting.
Hansen, 60, ran against Councilwoman Kathy Turner for the council’s at-large position two months ago. The close outcome prompted a hand recount.
Councilmen John Knutsen and George Dill and newly appointed Mayor Don Malloy said Friday that they supported Hansen because more than 4,000 voters did in the election.
“There is a fundamental principle in democracy that the government will yield to the electorate,” Malloy said. “I believe on this occasion the public has expressed their will.”
Nineteen people applied for the vacant seat, but only 16 remained in the pool Wednesday when the time came to deliver three-minute statements. The council then selected eight finalists for 25-minute interviews.
It initially cast a split vote Friday, with Turner, Mike Deal and Tami Brouillet supporting Russell Hamburg.
Deal then changed his vote, giving Hansen the appointment.
“This could go on forever,” Deal said. “It was just a potential reality that we would have to compromise, and I think Rick Hansen was well-qualified, even though my first choice was somebody else.”
Hansen is a business owner and consultant who served on the Puyallup City Council for two terms in the 1980s. He said that trying again was an emotional process and that he’s eager to move forward.
“All over again, you get the ups and downs,” Hansen said. “I’m simply excited to be part of a team.”
Hamburg, a retired Puyallup principal and school district human resources director, said he was satisfied with how the council handled the appointment process, but didn’t know if he’d choose to run for a council position in the future.
Melissa Santos: 253-552-7058
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