Sedro-Woolley City Council fills Ward 2 seat

SEDRO-WOOLLEY - The Sedro-Woolley City Council filled its open seat at Wednesday's meeting.

The council selected James Cox to fill the council's vacant Ward 2 seat. He replaces JoEllen Kesti, who was appointed Sedro-Woolley Mayor on April 8, vacating the seat.

Cox was sworn in immediately by the mayor and took his seat at the dais.

"I just want to thank everyone who has come here," Cox said. "It's important that we continue what we are doing and grow this city in a good way."

Cox was one of three candidates to apply for the open Ward 2 position. The others were Katya Matsko and Andrew Shamp.

Each council member was allowed to ask two standardized questions of each candidate and one follow-up.

The candidates were given the opportunity to make a closing statement if their 30-minute time allotment had not been exhausted.

"I want to thank everybody who showed up today to apply for this position," Kesti said. "It's a very, very hard thing to do. To see so many come up who want to do this, it fills your heart."

Cox and his wife are the owners of Happiest Tees on Earth and have lived in Sedro-Woolley for about 15 years. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1995 and received an associate degree in business management from Skagit Valley College.

"We have a good investment in the town, we have a business downtown," Cox said when asked why he decided to seek the appointment. "I have rentals, and I believe in making things better. I am not afraid of challenges, and that is very important to me.

"I also don't believe in the status quo, that you don't just say yes to say yes," he added. "I believe you take your time, look at all the research, get your facts, and I don't always think that happens. Sometimes people vote with their heart, and I think that's great, but we have to have facts."

He continued to say that he loves Sedro-Woolley and what has been going on in the town.

"I'm a Mount Vernon guy, grew up in Mount Vernon," Cox said, "but Sedro-Woolley is where I plan to hang my hat until the end. I want to raise my kids here. What I have seen is great. But also, what I've seen could be better."

Councilmember Nora Pederson made a motion to nominate Cox to the Ward 2 seat. It was seconded by Councilmember Karl de Jong and passed after votes in favor from Councilmembers Paul Cocke, Allan Henderson and Nick Lavacca.

The lone vote against the nomination came from Councilmember Kevin Loy.

Cox said that, in addition to working with his fellow council members, he looks forward to working with city staff and residents.

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 5:56 PM.