The Enumclaw City Council is going to be short a few bodies in the coming weeks.
During its first meeting of the year on Jan. 11, both Councilmembers Tony Binion and Kyle Jacobson announced they are resigning their posts, as they’re moving outside city limits. Both were elected to the council during the November 2017 election.
Binion was the first to give his exciting news to the public.
“It saddens me to come here today to announce that I will be resigning form my position on city council,” he began. “As many of you already know, last year, my husband and I purchased a property just outside city limits. It was our plan, as we still own our past residence in town, to stay in that home within city limits while we worked on a remodel. Over the holidays, we spend a lot of time out on our farm…. It offers all the amazing things Enumclaw has to offer, all the things we all love about it, and we fell in love. We decided we need to spend more time out here. This is our happy place.”
Binion said it was a hard decision to make.
“It’s been a great time. We’ve done a lot. I highly respect every single one of the council members, all of the staff. It’s been such a fluid, well-oiled machine, and I think as a united group, we have gotten a lot of great things done,” he continued. “This is not the end of seeing me. I will still be involved in the city — you’ll see me throughout town doing different projects.”
Mayor Jan Molinaro said a couple words as Binion left the dais, thanking him for his service before presenting Binion with the traditional Enumclaw tapestry.
“You’ve always been a valued member of this council, with incredible talents in the areas in which you were assigned for committees,” Molinaro said. “I’ve always respected the work you were able to accomplish, both within the city and outside of the city before you joined city council.”
While Binion is just moving into unincorporated King County, Jacobson has his hands full getting ready to relocate out of state.
“I recently accepted a job in southeast Texas, and will be resigning my council position at the end of January,” Jacobson said. “It is a wonderful career opportunity for me and my family, and it was simply something we couldn’t pass up. But it is so incredibly bittersweet to leave the team we have created here — this is by far in a way the best version of politics I could have ever hoped to see.”
Jacobson added that it was great to serve with a group of younger local politicians.
“I think that this is an amazing form of government that we’ve started working here, with a younger, more alive council that is here to really work on things,” he added. “It’s been an absolute honor.”
THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS
The city of Enumclaw has already begun the application process for Binion and Jacobson’s replacements, who will serve until at least the end of 2021.
Applicants must be residents living inside Enumclaw city limits, and must also be a registered voter.
To apply, send City Clerk Maureen Burwell a one-page letter of interest and a resumé at mburwell@ci.enumclaw.wa.us or by mail to: City of Enumclaw, Attn: City Clerk, 1339 Griffin Ave, Enumclaw, WA 98022.
The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on Feb. 15, and applicants will be interviewed by the city council on Feb. 22.
Applicants are also encouraged to register to run for election with King County Elections at www.kingcounty.gov/depts/elections.aspx.
For more information, email Burwell or call her at 360-615-5608.
