MONROE — The Monroe City Council has confirmed a new planning commissioner after a longtime member resigned.
Mike Stanger, who lost the November race for City Council to Jeff Rasmussen, will take a seat on the city’s Planning Commission.
The council also recognized David Demarest, who stepped down after 21 years on the commission, at a recent meeting.
Demarest, the assistant manager at Windermere Real Estate in Monroe, served as the commission’s chairman a number of times during his tenure.
Several council members and community members spoke in appreciation of Demarest’s service.
“I, for one, think he’s one of our local heros,” former Monroe Mayor Donnetta Walser* said.
Mayor Robert Zimmerman appointed Stanger to serve a four-year term on the seven-member Planning Commission, which makes recommendations to the council related to land use.
“Mr. Stanger brought a broad base of expertise,” Zimmerman said. “He has a good understanding of how to lead and how to work cohesively with a group.”
Stanger, who works at a Seattle consulting firm, has 25 years of management experience, including work at companies such as Microsoft, Novell, Corel and WordPerfect.
Though the council confirmed Stanger’s appointment, some members expressed concern about filling the position before the Dec. 20 closing date listed on the city’s website.
Council member Patsy Cudaback said that though Stanger appeared qualified, she thought the public deserved the full amount of time to apply.
The appointment was passed by a vote of 4 to 3.
Demarest said he has high hopes for his successor and the future of the commission.
“I would love to see the Planning Commission become more diversified,” Demarest said.
The commission holds public meetings twice monthly.
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com.
* Correction, Dec. 26, 2013: This article originally misspelled Donnetta Walser’s name.
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