PORT ANGELES — Three of the four City Council members who voted Tuesday to return former Mayor Richard Headrick to the council defended their pick as one of an experienced, knowledgeable voice being added to a busy legislative body.
But critics contended the City Council ignored the will of the people, who voted Headrick out of office during the November general election by a 10 percent margin over his challenger.
“Why not Richard?” said Deputy Mayor Larry Williams, who voted to reseat Headrick late Tuesday night.
“We had a job to do and I think we have taken a route that I suspect will be somewhat controversial, but not political.
“Our job was to find the most qualified person for 22 months, at which time a new election will decide a permanent replacement. We need someone thoroughly versed in all that’s going on.
“There’s other qualified candidates, and if he had not tendered his letter of interest, the process might have taken a different course.”
Despite “significant” and “heated” debate during an executive session that discussed some of the eight applicants, the City Council didn’t take into account the politics of the situation, Williams said.
“The four people who voted for Richard probably will take some political heat for it, but this was not a political decision,” he said.
“We have things we need to get done. There’s a lot on our plate.”
Neither Headrick nor Mayor Karen Rogers returned telephone messages left Wednesday afternoon and evening seeking comment on Tuesday night’s appointment.
Councilmen Grant Munro and Gary Braun reviewed the eight letters of intent received by the 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline to fill the council vacancy created by the Feb. 3 death of first-term Councilman Jack Pittis.
Munro said council members discussed whether returning Headrick to the council could become a distraction rather than an asset
During the Nov. 8 general election, Headrick lost his seat on the City Council to Planning Commission member Betsy Wharton by a 55 percent to 45 percent margin.
One of the other applicants for Pittis’ seat, Cherie Kidd, lost a close race to Williams during the general election, receiving more votes — 3,123 — than Headrick’s 2,872.
Kidd said Wednesday her telephone had been “ringing off the hook all day.”
“The reinstatement of Richard Headrick to our City Council is a disappointment,” she said.
“This sends the wrong message to the people who voted for change in the last election by voting Richard out of office. The voters clearly said no.
“We deserve a City Council who listens to the will of the voters. This time I think I they missed the mark.”