The city of Blaine is accepting applicants to serve several months on Blaine City Council after Mike Hill announced his resignation from the at-large position.
Hill resigned from council on June 11. Hill, a first-term councilmember who held the position since 2022, was up for re-election in November. Hill said in a phone call that he resigned due to personal reasons.
“My dad always told me, ‘Don’t sit in a crowd and yell at the referees or the players. If you’re going to yell, get involved in the game,’” Hill said. “I wanted to see how everything ran. And once I got in there, I could see I could help somewhat.”
Hill owns Hill’s Chevron in downtown Blaine and was a strong voice for revitalizing the city. He was proud of Christ the King Community Church opening downtown during his time on council and volunteered lawn mowing services to the city both before and while on council.
Hill said he supported Blaine Bouquets owner Sarbie Bains for the position, the only other candidate in the November election.
Following Hill’s resignation, city council discussed its options to find an interim councilmember during its June 23 meeting.
City manager Mike Harmon recommended council suspend its rule on filling council vacancies and appoint Bains to the position to save the city money on advertising the vacancy. City staff argued that, if the city interviewed and appointed an interim councilor, that councilmember would likely only serve from September until late November, when the election results would be certified and the winner would take over.
Hill’s name will remain on ballots and there will be a section for write-in candidates. Bains attended the council meeting.
Councilmembers May, Eric Davidson and Eric Lewis requested the city open the interim position to other applicants and asked that they be interviewed at the next council meeting on Monday, July 14. Council voted 4-1-1 with mayor Mary Lou Steward in opposition and councilmember Sonia Hurt abstaining.
“I don’t like the thought of just putting the person who is running in,” Davidson said. “That’s what we have elections for.”
The city published the applications on the city’s website, bit.ly/44cuJQr, the next day. The at-large position is open to any U.S. citizens living within city limits. Applicants must be a registered voter and have lived within city limits for at least one year. Applications will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. Friday, July 4.
“We’ll probably wind up appointing the same person being suggested, but it certainly would be an open and transparent process to say we’ve given everybody else a chance,” May said.
