The Auburn City Council will select a new councilmember at its regular meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 26 to fill the seat held from 2018 to 2022 by now-47th-Legislative-District-Representative Chris Stearns.

Stearns, D-Aub, who bested Shukri Olow, D-Kent, in the Nov. 8 general election, replaces former state Rep. Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, who decided not to seek re-election in 2022 after 18 years in Olympia.

Like council members elsewhere in Washington state who have been elected to state office, Stearns had the option of remaining on the council and serving in both offices at the same time, or resigning from his city position, chose to resign.

At a special study session of the Auburn City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 18, council members approved five as-yet unnamed-candidates to advance to the interview process before next Monday’s meeting.

No members of the selection committee know whom they selected to advance, as all identifying information was redacted to ensure a blind selection process based purely on qualifications, according to Jonathan Glover, Communications Manager for the City of Auburn.