A seat on the Mercer Island City Council is open for applicants following the resignation of Council member Steve Litzow, who won election as a state senator in the recent statewide general election. The City of Mercer Island is now accepting applications from Island residents. Litzow’s resignation from the Council takes effect on Dec. 31.

The term of the vacated position will commence when a candidate is appointed by a majority vote of the City Council, and will expire after the results of the Nov. 8, 2011 general election are certified.

Candidate interviews for the position are scheduled for Jan. 13, 2011, at a special Council meeting. The Council will vote and swear in a new Council member on Jan. 18, 2011, at a regular meeting.

Residents interested in applying for the Council vacancy must have resided in the city of Mercer Island for at least one year prior to Council appointment and must be registered to vote. Interested residents may obtain application forms at City Hall, located at 9611 S.E. 36th Street, or receive them in the mail. Applications are due to the city clerk by 5 p.m., Dec. 30, and those received after 5 p.m. on Dec. 30 will not be accepted.

The City of Mercer Island operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The seven-member City Council serves as the legislative body of the city. The Council is responsible for setting policy, adopting the annual budget, adopting laws, determining the services provided by the city and the funding levels for those services, and appointing citizens to its advisory boards and commissions.

For more information on the Council vacancy position or to receive forms in the mail, contact City Clerk Ali Spietz at (206) 275-7793 or ali.spietz@mercergov.org. The application for appointment to Mercer Island City Council Position #1 may also be downloaded from www.mercergov.org.