Former Bellingham Mayor Tim Douglas was appointed Monday night to fill the remaining term of current Mayor Mark Asmundson, whose recent resignation becomes effective November 1.
Douglas brings significant higher education and state and local
government experience to the interim position. An experienced government
leader, Douglas served as Bellingham's mayor 1984 through 1995, directed the
state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, and was Peace
Corps country director in Moscow.
Since his return to Bellingham, Douglas has remained an active community
leader, most recently involved with Bellingham's Greenways and library
expansion. He currently serves on several community boards, including the
Board of the Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities and the Board of
Trustees for the Bellingham Public Library.
In remarks made at Monday's meeting after he was appointed by Council, Douglas said he would focus on sustaining Council's priorities and projects already underway, support Bellingham's "tremendous" management team, and "get the work of the people done."
In late August, Asmundson announced he would resign his elected position to accept a job as manager of the Northwest Clean Air Agency (NWCAA). Asmundson began his third Mayoral term in 2005; his resignation leaves one year left in his four-year elected term as Mayor.
The vacancy created by Asmundson's departure was filled by a majority vote of the City Council, as per Bellingham's City Charter, which allows Council to fill such a vacancy by any Bellingham citizen who meets its eligibility requirements.
The Bellingham City Council discussed several approaches to filling the vacant position before voting 4-3 Monday night to approve a motion appointing Douglas to the position when it is vacated by Asmundson. Voters will elect a Mayor for a four-year term at the next general election in November 2007.
Posted: Sep 11, 2006
