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Council Vacancy

Thank you for your interest in serving the community as a member of the Sumner City Council. The application process has now closed. On February 20, the Council voted Pat Clerget to fill the vacant seat. The City has a variety of ways for interested individuals to get involved and potentially serve on the Council in the future. Visit our Commissions webpage at https://sumnerwa.gov/commissions/ to learn more about this volunteer opportunity and how you can apply.

The timeline for filling the Council vacancy is as follows:

February 1, 2024: Application and supplemental material due to City Clerk by 5:00pm

February 12, 2024: Candidate interviews beginning at 6:00pm

February 20, 2024: Candidate nominations and appointment voting beginning at 6:00pm

March 4, 2024: Swearing in of new councilmember (tentative)

To be considered, your application must be completed and received by the City Attorney. Applications and supplemental materials received after 5pm will not be accepted. Additional written information after this date will not be accepted, unless requested by the City Council.


City Council Duties & Compensation

The Sumner City Council is the legislative authority of the City of Sumner. The City operates under a Mayor-Council form of government. The seven-member City Council serves as the legislative body of the City. The Council is responsible for setting policy, adopting the annual budget, adopting laws, determining the services to be provided and the funding levels for those services, and appointing citizens to its advisory boards and commissions.

  • The duties of a City Councilmember will likely involve an average minimum commitment of 18-20 hours per month for preparation, participation, and attendance at various meetings and community activities. Beyond the broad duties previously mentioned, Councilmember duties include, but are not limited to:
  • Required attendance at regular City Council meetings and study sessions, which are held every Monday evening, starting at 6:00pm. From time to time, the City Council or Mayor may call special City Council meetings to handle city business.
  • Councilmembers are expected to serve on Council Committees, regional boards and commissions and to represent the City Council at various community functions. These various meetings and functions occur normally during the evenings (2-3 times per month) but may also occur on some weekends and during some weekdays.
  • Some travel is expected locally, regionally, and/or within the State of Washington in accordance with the City travel policy applicable to all employees and City officials as well as the budgetary limits set for each Councilmember and for the City Council as a whole.

The monthly Councilmember salary as of January 1, 2024, is $1,100 per month. No benefits are offered.


Councilmember Eligibility, Requirements & Public Disclosure

To be eligible to be appointed to the Sumner City Council, you

  • Must have continuously resided within the Sumner city limits for a minimum of one year prior to your appointment to the Council, and
  • Must be a registered voter in the City of Sumner.

Please note that:

  • Once a Councilmember application is filed with the City, it is a public record available to the public.
  • The applications received from all candidates who meet the minimum requirements of State law,along with the answers to the supplemental questions, will be posted on the City of Sumner website as part of the Council's meeting packet the week of the initial interview.
  • If appointed, you will be required by state law to file financial disclosure statements with the Washington Public Disclosure Commission (www.pdc.wa.gov). In addition, you may be required to complete a conflict disclosure statement for the City.
  • This position will be on the 2025 ballot as a two-year term expiring December 31, 2027.


Interview Questions

On February 12th, the Council will conduct in person interviews. The order of interviews will be determined by a random draw at the beginning of the meeting. Candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions:

1.Why do you want to serve on the City Council?

2.What experiences, talents or skills do you bring to the Council and community that you would like to highlight?

3.What do you wish to accomplish if appointed to the Sumner City Council?

The Council may set a time limit for each candidate to respond to the above questions.

Thank you for your interest in serving the community as a member of the Sumner City Council. The application process has now closed. On February 20, the Council voted Pat Clerget to fill the vacant seat. The City has a variety of ways for interested individuals to get involved and potentially serve on the Council in the future. Visit our Commissions webpage at https://sumnerwa.gov/commissions/ to learn more about this volunteer opportunity and how you can apply.

The timeline for filling the Council vacancy is as follows:

February 1, 2024: Application and supplemental material due to City Clerk by 5:00pm

February 12, 2024: Candidate interviews beginning at 6:00pm

February 20, 2024: Candidate nominations and appointment voting beginning at 6:00pm

March 4, 2024: Swearing in of new councilmember (tentative)

To be considered, your application must be completed and received by the City Attorney. Applications and supplemental materials received after 5pm will not be accepted. Additional written information after this date will not be accepted, unless requested by the City Council.


City Council Duties & Compensation

The Sumner City Council is the legislative authority of the City of Sumner. The City operates under a Mayor-Council form of government. The seven-member City Council serves as the legislative body of the City. The Council is responsible for setting policy, adopting the annual budget, adopting laws, determining the services to be provided and the funding levels for those services, and appointing citizens to its advisory boards and commissions.

  • The duties of a City Councilmember will likely involve an average minimum commitment of 18-20 hours per month for preparation, participation, and attendance at various meetings and community activities. Beyond the broad duties previously mentioned, Councilmember duties include, but are not limited to:
  • Required attendance at regular City Council meetings and study sessions, which are held every Monday evening, starting at 6:00pm. From time to time, the City Council or Mayor may call special City Council meetings to handle city business.
  • Councilmembers are expected to serve on Council Committees, regional boards and commissions and to represent the City Council at various community functions. These various meetings and functions occur normally during the evenings (2-3 times per month) but may also occur on some weekends and during some weekdays.
  • Some travel is expected locally, regionally, and/or within the State of Washington in accordance with the City travel policy applicable to all employees and City officials as well as the budgetary limits set for each Councilmember and for the City Council as a whole.

The monthly Councilmember salary as of January 1, 2024, is $1,100 per month. No benefits are offered.


Councilmember Eligibility, Requirements & Public Disclosure

To be eligible to be appointed to the Sumner City Council, you

  • Must have continuously resided within the Sumner city limits for a minimum of one year prior to your appointment to the Council, and
  • Must be a registered voter in the City of Sumner.

Please note that:

  • Once a Councilmember application is filed with the City, it is a public record available to the public.
  • The applications received from all candidates who meet the minimum requirements of State law,along with the answers to the supplemental questions, will be posted on the City of Sumner website as part of the Council's meeting packet the week of the initial interview.
  • If appointed, you will be required by state law to file financial disclosure statements with the Washington Public Disclosure Commission (www.pdc.wa.gov). In addition, you may be required to complete a conflict disclosure statement for the City.
  • This position will be on the 2025 ballot as a two-year term expiring December 31, 2027.


Interview Questions

On February 12th, the Council will conduct in person interviews. The order of interviews will be determined by a random draw at the beginning of the meeting. Candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions:

1.Why do you want to serve on the City Council?

2.What experiences, talents or skills do you bring to the Council and community that you would like to highlight?

3.What do you wish to accomplish if appointed to the Sumner City Council?

The Council may set a time limit for each candidate to respond to the above questions.

Page last updated: 27 Feb 2024, 08:42 AM