Pasco council outlines accelerated process to fill District 4 vacancy; staff to post applications

The Pasco City Council set a timeline and process Aug. 18 to fill the District 4 council vacancy created by Councilmember Pete Serrano’s Aug. 10 resignation. Staff will publish an application and begin recruitment immediately.

Assistant City Manager Angela Pashawn briefed the council on municipal code and state law requirements for filling vacancies. Council discussion favored an accelerated schedule: open applications for two weeks, then allow staff to verify applicant eligibility, hold an executive session to review applications and narrow candidates, and conduct public interviews at the next regular council meeting with the appointment and swearing‑in that evening.

Council also discussed outreach and fairness: members asked staff to ensure intentional notice to District 4 residents and said they prefer to narrow applicants to a short list (three candidates typically) to keep interviews manageable.

Why it matters: The appointment fills the seat until Dec. 31, 2025. The council noted unusual election timing because the same seat also appears on the ballot; if the ballot winner is sworn in after certification, a separate appointment process may be required for the subsequent term under state law.

Next steps: Staff will publish the application, accept submissions for two weeks, verify residency and voter registration, and return recommended finalists for interviews at the next available meeting. Council directed staff to provide sample interview questions and to coordinate legal review to ensure the process complies with recent changes to executive‑session rules.

Ending: Council emphasized speed, outreach to District 4 and fairness in candidate review. No appointment vote was taken at this meeting.