The Buckley City Council is back at full strength, now that Sandy Burkett has been selected to fill a Position 7 vacancy.

Her appointment came the evening of July 12, courtesy of the other six members of the council, who interviewed four candidates before making their choice.

If the name sounds familiar in a City Hall context, it’s because her husband, Beau Burkett, already sits on the council.

Mayor Pat Johnson said the city made sure – prior to the vote – that there was no legal conflict having a married couple on the council. The situation isn’t all that rare on the Plateau: presently, a husband and wife sit on the Wilkeson Town Council and it wasn’t too long ago that the same situation existed in Enumclaw.

The newest council member is a 26-year resident of Buckley. She has helped the community by assembling holiday baskets for the needy and volunteering at the local food bank.

The Position 7 vacancy came with the resignation of Jenney Kyllonen. She was elected in the fall of 2015, took office in January and served just a few months before stepping down. Burkett’s appointed term expires with the close of 2017. To keep her seat on the council, she would have to run for office next year.

Buckley’s seven council members are charged with establishing city policy and adopting an annual budget. For their time and effort, they are compensated $250 per month.