The deadline for applications to the vacant District 6 position on the Metro Council passed at 5 p.m. Wednesday, and eight qualified applicants expressed interest in the upcoming appointment.
The eight applicants are:
- Martha Dibblee, a retired health physicist and consultant who has served on the Energy Facility Siting Council and the board of the Climate Trust .
- Kenneth Heggem, a sales representative with Columbia Northwest Heating and board member of the Woodstock Neighborhood Association.
- Jonathan Levine, a former project manager with the University of Western States
- Walt Nichols, a bookkeeper with Watson Plumbing Co. and chair of the Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association. Nichols was an unsuccessful candidate for Portland City Council in 2010.
- Alesia Reese, a clerk with the U.S. Postal Service and member of the Parkrose School District board. She is also chair of the Woodland Park Neighborhood Association and the East Portland Parks Coalition.
- Barbara Roberts, former Oregon Governor.
- Bob Shiprack, a labor relations consultant for Pac/West Communications and a former executive secretary of the Oregon State Building Trades Council. He served six terms in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1983 to 1995.
- Bob Stacey, a consultant and former executive director of 1000 Friends of Oregon. He also served as chief of staff to Congressman Earl Blumenauer and as executive director of policy and planning for TriMet. Stacey was an unsuccessful candidate for Metro Council President in 2010.
The Metro Council will interview the applicants in a public meeting next Wednesday, Feb. 16, beginning at 5 p.m. at the David Douglas School District headquarters, located at 1500 SE 130th Ave. in Portland. Members of the public are welcome to testify on behalf of, or in opposition to, any of the applicants, or to provide other comments relating to the appointment process.
At the conclusion of the public testimony, the Metro Council will decide whether to appoint a new Metro Councilor or invite a group of finalists to appear in a public debate. If that debate occurs, it will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 22, beginning at 5 p.m. at Metro Regional Center, which is located at 600 NE Grand Ave. in Portland. If the debate occurs, the Metro Council will likely vote on the appointment at its regular meeting beginning at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24.
This vacancy on the Metro Council occurred when Robert Liberty resigned Jan. 15 to become executive director of the Sustainable Cities Initiative at the University of Oregon. The person chosen to fill the vacant position may serve the remainder of Liberty’s term, ending in January 2013. An election for a four-year term will be held in May 2012, and if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the two highest vote winners will advance to a run-off election the following November.
Metro District 6 lies entirely within Multnomah County and includes portions of Southwest, Southeast and Northeast Portland.
Read more about the District 6 appointment process