Five Applicants Vie for Empty Council Seat

WAITSBURG – The Waitsburg City Council will choose from five applicants when they vote to fill a vacant city council seat during a special council meeting at 6 p.m. on Thurs, Sept. 15. Applicants include Karen Gregutt, Jeanie Miller, Lisa Morrow, Jim Davison, and Debra Callahan.

The open council position became available when former Waitsburg Mayor Walt Gobel resigned last month. At their August council meeting, council members voted to have Mayor pro tem Marty Dunn fulfill Gobel’s term. This left an empty seat which the council opted to fill through an application and interview process.

Had the council chosen to offer the seat to the next-highest vote-getter from the April election, the seat would have gone to Gregutt. She received 193 votes in the election, just eight votes behind Karl Newell, who took the fifth place seat with 201 votes.

Gregutt has made her home in Waitsburg since 2005 and has said she is eager to contribute her professional expertise and fresh ideas to promote and enhance Waitsburg. Her career experience includes 30 years as managing partner at Kaye-Smith Productions in Seattle, producing and directing commercials. She serves as chairperson of the city planning commission, and represented Waitsburg at regional shoreline management review meetings.

Callahan was elected to city council in 2013 when she unseated Scott Nettles by two votes to claim the fifth council seat. Callahan gave up that seat this year when she made an unsuccessful bid for mayor. She is a longtime community member and has said she hopes to have the opportunity to take Waitsburg’s great resources and make them even better.

Davison is no stranger to local politics. He previously served on City Council and, when Mayor Tom Baker resigned in 1986, pro tem Davison finished out Baker’s term. He ran the following year and was elected for the 1986-87 term.

“Due to recent circumstances, including the resignation of Mayor Walt Gobel, it seemed having someone with previous experience in Waitsburg’s city government was preferable to attempting to introduce someone lacking that experience at this time. By applying for the vacant position the remaining council members are given that option to consider when making their choice,” Davison said.

Miller is another longtime resident, but is new to the political arena. “If I can help in any way I’ll be happy to do so. One of my best suits is that I’m a listener. I like to know all aspects of a situation before making a decision,” she said.

Morrow grew up in Dayton and Walla Walla and has lived in Waitsburg for the last 13 years. She is a 4-H leader and serves as treasurer of the Home and School Association. Morrow said she was requested to apply for the position.

“I thought it would be a good opportunity. I love our little town,” she said.

The applicants will be interviewed before the council at the special Sept. 15 meeting at 6 p.m. at the Lions Club Building at the Waitsburg Fairgrounds. The council is expected to make a selection at that meeting and the chosen candidate will serve until next spring’s elections.

The next regular council meeting will be held Tues., Sept. 20, at 7 p.m.