Pasco council appoints Joe Carter to fill District 4 seat

The Pasco City Council on Sept. 15 appointed Joe Carter to the council’s District 4 seat after interviewing four finalists and taking advice in executive session. The motion to appoint was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Charles Grimm and seconded by Councilmember Peter Harpster; the appointment passed on a 5–1 roll-call vote. Carter took the oath of office at the meeting.

City Attorney Eric Ferguson told the council that the appointment carries an uncertain effective length because of the upcoming general election: “It could be, only till November 25. So I just wanna make sure that all the candidates are aware of that,” he said during the meeting.

The appointment process began as a special meeting of the council, which interviewed the finalists publicly before adjourning to an executive session allowed by state law to “evaluate the qualifications of candidates for appointment to elective office” (RCW 42.30.110(1)(h)). After the executive session the council reconvened and Grimm moved to appoint the candidate. The roll call recorded yes votes from Councilmembers Barajas, Blaisdell, Harpster, Mayor Pro Tem Grimm and Mayor David Milne; Councilmember Leo Perales voted no.

Following the vote, Carter was sworn in at the dais. In the oath he affirmed support for the U.S. and Washington constitutions and committed to faithfully perform the duties of council member for District 4. The council recessed briefly after the swearing-in.

What happens next: the appointee will serve immediately; the city attorney’s guidance means the term could end following certification of the winner of the Nov. 4 general election or continue through Dec. 31, 2025, depending on timing. The council did not take additional policy action tied to the appointment at the same meeting.

Speakers who discussed the appointment and interview process included Mayor David Milne; Mayor Pro Tem Charles Grimm; Councilmembers Barajas, Melissa Blaisdell, Peter Harpster and Leo Perales; City Attorney Eric Ferguson; and the newly sworn council member, Joe Carter.