Sec. 2.5. Vacancies — Elected Officials.
The office of a Mayor or Council member shall become vacant upon:
(a) Failure to qualify at the time of taking of office;
(b) Death;
(c) Resignation;
(d) Recall;
(e) Forfeiture; or
(f) Extended absence or incapacity.
In the event of a vacancy in the office of Mayor or Council member, the Council by majority vote shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy until the next regular municipal or general election. For vacancies occurring prior to the filing deadline for declaration of candidacy for such vacant office, as established by RCW 29A.24.050 as now or later amended, the election shall be held in November of the year of appointment. For those vacancies occurring subsequent to the filing deadline for declaration of candidacy, the election shall occur in November of the year following appointment. The person so elected shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term. If, after thirty days have passed since the occurrence of a vacancy, and the Council has been unable to agree upon a person to be appointed to fill the vacancy, the Mayor or in his or her absence, the mayor pro tempore, may make the appointment from among the persons nominated by members of the Council.
In the event of the extended excused absence or disability of a Council member, the remaining members, by majority vote, may appoint a Council member pro tempore to serve during the absence or disability.
In the event of the vacancy of the office of Mayor, all duties of the Mayor shall be performed by the mayor pro tempore, until an interim Mayor has been appointed or the person who is elected to serve the remainder of the unexpired term of the Mayor takes office. The Chief Administrative Assistant shall continue to perform the administrative duties, and shall not be removed without the consent of the Council.
“Incapacity” as used in this section shall mean “unable to perform the ordinary and usual tasks or duties of the office for an extended period of time.” An extended period of time for the purposes of this section shall be that which is beyond a “reasonable” time. (Ord. 2924-06 § 3, 2006; amended 11-5-96)