2006.09.12: September 12, 2006: Headlines: COS - Russia: City Government: Bellingham Herald: Former Russia Country Director Tim Douglas is interim Mayor of Bellingham
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2006.09.12: September 12, 2006: Headlines: COS - Russia: City Government: Bellingham Herald: Former Russia Country Director Tim Douglas is interim Mayor of Bellingham
Former Russia Country Director Tim Douglas is interim Mayor of Bellingham
Director of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, then Peace Corps director in Russia for 14 months. Douglas previously was dean of students at Western Washington University, a Bellingham city councilman, chairman of the Whatcom County Democratic Party, and an environmental and economic consultant in Russia's Far East.
Former Russia Country Director Tim Douglas is interim Mayor of Bellingham
Council taps Douglas as interim mayor
Former mayor says he won't run for office next year
JON GAMBRELL
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
Former Bellingham Mayor Tim Douglas will return to helm the city for the next year, a divided City Council decided Monday night, providing stability after the surprise resignation of Mayor Mark Asmundson.
The council's 4-3 vote ended sharp debate between individual council members, several of whom openly vied for the seat. It also gives voters a wide-open mayoral election next year, as Douglas has said he will not run for the position.
Douglas, 62, will take office beginning Nov. 1, the day Asmundson takes a new job with the Northwest Clean Air Agency. As mayor, Douglas will earn $111,420 annually.
Speaking before the council after its decision, Douglas promised to reach out to department heads and the council while serving as the city's caretaker.
"We know there is a lot in front of us," Douglas said. "I will do what I can to work very closely and cooperatively with the council."
Douglas, previously a city councilman, served as mayor from 1983 through 1995. His tenure as the city's top elected official saw the City Council allow the construction of Bellis Fair mall, which Douglas opposed. When he stepped down in 1995, he pointed to remodeling of City Hall, the library, police and fire stations and adding new trails and parks as his major accomplishments.
After serving as mayor, Douglas worked as director of the state's Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. He resigned in 1999 and served as a Peace Corps director in Russia.
SEVERAL VOTES
The council did not immediately name Douglas to the position. A first vote on appointing Douglas failed 2-5 Monday afternoon. That evening, the council rejected appointing Council President Gene Knutson as mayor in a 3-4 vote, with council members Louise Bjornson and Terry Bornemann voting with him.
In the two weeks since Asmundson's resignation, Knutson openly campaigned for the position and won the outgoing mayor's endorsement. However, Knutson stressed he had no prior knowledge of Asmundson's plans.
"The mayor and I did not for one second discuss him leaving," Knutson said. "There was no backdoor deal."
The council as a whole agreed the next mayor should be either a current or past elected official, but split on whether their appointee should seek public office next year.
"If you're not looking at running, you are not accountable to anyone," Bornemann said. "Someone who wants to run for the position knows if they do not do the type of job the citizens expect them to do, they are out."
But City Councilwoman Barbara Ryan warned that picking an appointee with political aspirations would be "conferring the advantages of incumbency."
"We know incumbents have a pretty astounding record of winning elections," Ryan said.
In the end, Councilmen Bob Ryan, John Watts and Knutson voted against appointing Douglas. After the vote, Douglas stood for a minute of applause from the 100 people attending the meeting.
"It's not an easy job for anybody in elected office," Douglas said. "I certainly plan to do everything I can to keep the playing field focused completely on the work that the council has outlined."
Reach Jon Gambrell at jon.gambrell@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2263.
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Story Source: Bellingham Herald
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