One of the Puyallup City Council’s new members will take office before year’s end.
Semi-retired property manager John Hopkins beat retired railroad worker Tom Smillie in the race for District 1, Position 2. Councilwoman Nicole Martineau now holds the seat representing the north end of the city.
Because she joined the council by appointment in 2010, her term ends when the election results are certified. Hopkins will take his oath of office after the Nov. 8 election results are certified next week.
Martineau didn’t run to keep the District 1 seat, instead opting to vie for the council’s at-large position. She is trailing opponent Steve Vermillion, a management consultant, by about 200 votes.
Martineau said she’s disappointed she won’t finish out the year on the council, but “the law is the law, and I respect that,” she said.
She said she intends to stay involved in the city and is applying for the planning commission.
The City Council has one more meeting scheduled before year’s end. On Dec. 6, it is expected to adopt the city’s 2012 budget. The meeting will be Hopkins’ first on the council.
Sara Schilling: 253-552-7058 sara.schilling@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/street
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